Form 10 K/A
 
               .
                                                               The following items were the subject of a Form
                                                               12b-25 and are included herein: Item 6, Item 7, item 8,
                                                                Item 9A, Item 15-Financial Statement Schedules and
                                                                Exhbits 23, 31 and 32. In addition, the Part III items of
                                                                this Report have been amended and are included herein.

 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_____________________
FORM 10-K/A
(AMENDMENT NO. 1)

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005
Commission File No. 000-26728

TALK AMERICA HOLDINGS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
23-2827736
(State or other jurisdiction of
(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)
Identification Number)
   
6805 Route 202
18938
New Hope, PA
(zip code)
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(215) 862-1500
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Name of each exchange on which registered
None
Not applicable

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Stock, Par Value $.01 Per Share
Rights to Purchase Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
(Title of class)


Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Yes [ ] No [ X]

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
Yes [ ] No [ X]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] No [ ]

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment of this Form 10-K. [X]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer [ ]  Accelerated filer [ X ]  Non-accelerated filer [ ]
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).
Yes [ ] No [ X]

As of June 30, 2005, the aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant, based on the average of the high and low prices of the common stock on June 30, 2005 of $10.04 per share as reported on the Nasdaq National Market, was approximately $277,788,698 (calculated by excluding solely for purposes of this form outstanding shares owned by directors and executive officers).

As of March 1, 2006, the registrant had issued and outstanding 30,396,192 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share.
 
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

None.

 

TALK AMERICA HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO FORM 10-K
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2005


ITEM
NO.
PAGE
NO.
   
 PART II
 
6.    Selected Financial Data        
 2
7.    Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 3
7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk
 12
8.     Financial Statements and Supplementary Data      
 13
9A. Controls and Procedures
 
   
 PART III
 
10.   Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant
 40
11.   Executive Compensation
 42
12.   Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
 46
13.   Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
 49
14.   Principal Accounting Fees and Services
 49
   
 PART IV
 
15.   Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules
 50


Unless the context otherwise requires, references to "us," "we," and "our" or to "Talk America" refer to Talk America Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries.   
1



PART II


ITEM 6.     SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.

The selected consolidated unaudited financial data should be read in conjunction with, and are qualified in their entirety by, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and our Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-K Annual Report and our Form 10-K Annual Reports previously filed.

 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
 
 
2005
 
 
2004
 
 
2003
   
2002
   
2001
 
 
 
(In Thousands, Except For Per Share Amounts) 
C Consolidated Statements of Operations Data:
                               
Revenue
 
$
462,740
 
$
471,012
 
$
383,693
 
$
317,507
 
$
488,158
 
Costs and expenses:
                               
Network and line costs
   
243,925
   
225,244
   
173,349
   
146,911
   
218,964
 
General and administrative expenses
   
82,127
   
72,020
   
63,104
   
62,166
   
98,391
 
Provision for doubtful accounts
   
19,114
   
21,313
   
11,599
   
9,365
   
92,778
 
Sales and marketing expenses
   
29,863
   
70,202
   
51,008
   
27,148
   
73,973
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
44,937
   
22,904
   
18,345
   
17,318
   
34,390
 
Impairment and restructuring charges
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
170,571
 
Total costs and expenses
   
419,966
   
411,683
   
317,405
   
262,908
   
689,067
 
Operating income (loss)
   
42,774
   
59,329
   
66,288
   
54,599
   
(200,909
)
Other income (expense):
                               
Interest income
   
1,007
   
290
   
388
   
802
   
1,220
 
Interest expense
   
(350
)
 
(733
)
 
(7,353
)
 
(9,087
)
 
(6,091
)
Other income (expense), net
   
974
   
1,895
   
2,470
   
28,448
   
17,950
 
Income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income
   taxes
   
44,405
   
60,781
   
61,793
   
74,762
   
(187,830
)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
   
18,244
   
23,969
   
(20,024
)
 
(22,300
)
 
--
 
Income (loss) before cumulative effect of an
   accounting change
   
26,161
   
36,812
   
81,817
   
97,062
   
(187,830
)
Cumulative effect of an accounting change
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
(36,837
)
Net income (loss)
 
$
26,161
 
$
36,812
 
$
81,817
 
$
97,062
 
$
(224,667
)
                                 
Income (loss) per share - Basic:
                               
Income (loss) before cumulative effect of an accounting change per share
 
$
0.91
 
$
1.37
 
$
3.10
 
$
3.56
 
$
(7.11
)
Cumulative effect of an accounting change per share
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
(1.40
)
Net income (loss) per share
 
$
0.91
 
$
1.37
 
$
3.10
 
$
3.56
 
$
(8.51
)
Weighted average common shares outstanding
   
28,675
   
26,847
   
26,376
   
27,253
   
26,414
 
                                 
Income (loss) per share - Diluted:
                               
Income (loss) before cumulative effect of an accounting change per share
 
$
0.89
 
$
1.32
 
$
2.94
 
$
3.15
 
$
(7.11
)
Cumulative effect of an accounting change per share
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
(1.40
)
Net income (loss) per share
 
$
0.89
 
$
1.32
 
$
2.94
 
$
3.15
 
$
(8.51
)
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding
   
29,296
   
27,854
   
27,806
   
30,798
   
26,414
 

2



   
At December 31,
 
 
 
 
2005
 
 
2004
   
2003
   
2002
   
2001
 
 
 
(In Thousands) 
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:
                               
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
46,288
 
$
47,492
 
$
35,242
 
$
33,588
 
$
22,100
 
Total current assets
   
118,281
   
138,068
   
105,595
   
82,825
   
51,214
 
Goodwill and intangibles, net
   
41,413
   
14,979
   
17,769
   
26,882
   
29,672
 
Total assets
   
288,689
   
241,728
   
247,178
   
189,075
   
165,737
 
Current portion of long-term debt
   
3,988
   
2,529
   
16,806
   
61
   
14,454
 
Total current liabilities
   
88,739
   
84,584
   
93,235
   
64,754
   
87,789
 
Long-term debt
   
1,289
   
1,717
   
31,791
   
100,855
   
152,370
 
Stockholders' equity (deficit)
 
$
191,787
 
$
141,521
 
$
103,143
 
$
23,466
 
$
(74,422
)

See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for a discussion of items affecting the results of 2003, 2004 and 2005.


ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-K Annual Report.

Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
 
    Certain of the statements contained herein may be considered "forward-looking statements" for purposes of the securities laws. From time to time, oral or written forward-looking statements may also be included in other materials released to the public. These forward-looking statements are intended to provide our management’s current expectations or plans for our future operating and financial performance, based on our current expectations and assumptions currently believed to be valid. For these statements, we claim protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases, including, but not limited to, "believes," "estimates," "expects," "expected," "anticipates," "anticipated," "plans," "strategy," "target," "prospects" and other words of similar meaning in connection with a discussion of future operating or financial performance. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct.
 
All forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. In addition to those factors discussed in this Form 10-K Annual Report, you should see our other reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K subsequently filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time for information identifying factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements.

OVERVIEW

Talk America Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is a leading competitive communications services provider offering voice and data services to commercial (primarily small and medium-sized business) and residential customers. We are focused on markets where we have our own networking assets, which we began deploying in Michigan in late 2003. Today, we are collocated in 313 end offices in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and Georgia. As of December 31, 2005, we had approximately 595,000 local voice and data equivalent lines, of which approximately 341,000 were on our own network. Voice equivalent lines include individual telephone lines and T-1 equivalent lines based on circuit bandwidth. Data equivalent lines include DSL, dial-up and T-1 equivalent lines based on circuit bandwidth.

We expanded into the commercial business market with the acquisition in July 2005 of LDMI Telecommunications, Inc. (“LDMI”), a privately held facilities-based competitive local exchange provider serving business and residential customers primarily in Michigan and Ohio. Our results include the results of LDMI since the date of acquisition. In addition, we have significantly expanded our network and commercial business through the acquisition in January 2006 of Network Telephone Corporation (“NTC”), a privately held facilities-based competitive local exchange provider serving commercial customers in the Southeast. As of December 31, 2005, NTC had approximately 150,000 local voice and data equivalent lines, of which approximately 125,000 were on their network. During 2005, we also completed the construction of our network in Michigan, integrated this network with LDMI’s network assets and migrated over 200,000 lines from the incumbent local exchange company wholesale platform to our network. Our off-network customers represent a large, profitable base of bundled phone service customers utilizing the wholesale operating platforms of the incumbent local exchange companies.

3

Our business strategy is to continue to expand our network and grow our on-net customer and revenue base through (i) organic growth in our core markets serving both commercial and residential customers; (ii) additional acquisitions that either supplement our existing markets or offer expansion into new markets; and (iii) enhancement of our product portfolio. Growth in our on-net business, both commercial and residential, will permit us to leverage our investment in our network facilities due to the complementary telecommunication traffic or usage patterns of these customer bases.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following table sets forth for the periods indicated certain of our financial data as a percentage of revenue:

   
Year Ended December 31,
 
     
2005
   
2004
   
2003
 
Revenue
   
100.0
%
 
100.0
%
 
100.0
%
Costs and expenses:
                   
Network and line costs
   
52.7
   
47.8
   
45.2
 
General and administrative expenses
   
17.7
   
15.3
   
16.4
 
Provision for doubtful accounts
   
4.1
   
4.5
   
3.0
 
Sales and marketing expenses
   
6.5
   
14.9
   
13.3
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
9.7
   
4.9
   
4.8
 
Total costs and expenses
   
90.8
   
87.4
   
82.7
 
Operating income
   
9.2
   
12.6
   
17.3
 
Other income (expense):
                   
Interest income
   
0.2
   
0.1
   
0.1
 
Interest expense
   
(0.1
)
 
(0.2
)
 
(1.9
)
Other, net
   
0.2
   
0.4
   
0.6
 
Income before income taxes
   
9.6
   
12.9
   
16.1
 
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
   
3.9
   
5.1
   
(5.2
)
                     
                     
Net income
   
5.7
%
 
7.8
%
 
21.3
%

The following table sets forth for certain items of our financial data for each year the percentage increase or (decrease) in such item from the preceding fiscal year:

   
Year Ended December 31,
 
     
2005
   
2004
 
Revenue
   
(1.8
%)
 
22.8
%
Costs and expenses:
             
Network and line costs
   
8.3
%
 
29.9
%
General and administrative expenses
   
14.0
%
 
14.1
%
Provision for doubtful accounts
   
(10.3
%)
 
83.7
%
Sales and marketing expenses
   
(57.5
%)
 
37.6
%
Depreciation and amortization
   
96.2
%
 
24.9
%
Total costs and expenses
   
2.0
%
 
29.7
%
Operating income
   
(27.9
%)
 
(10.5
%)
Other income (expense):
             
Interest income
   
247.2
%
 
(25.3
%)
Interest expense
   
(52.3
%)
 
(90.0
%)
Other, net
   
(48.6
%)
 
(23.3
%)
Income before income taxes
   
(26.9
%)
 
(1.6
%)
Provision for income taxes
   
(23.9
%)
 
219.7
%
Net income
   
(28.9
%)
 
(55.0
%)


4

Revenue. Total revenue decreased in 2005 from 2004. As a result of significant changes to FCC rules, beginning in March 2005, we were no longer able to provide service to new customers using the incumbent local exchange companies’ unbundled network platform. In addition, the cost of providing service under replacement wholesale agreements has increased substantially. These cost increases have and will continue to lead us to increase our product pricing, which limits our ability to add new customers and to retain existing customers. Therefore, beginning in March 2005, we ceased our efforts to increase subscriber growth in markets other than those areas where we currently have or plan to deploy network facilities. We began deploying our own networking assets in Michigan in late 2003. These actions have caused a significant decrease in the number of customer lines and revenue during 2005. This decline in customer lines and revenue was partially mitigated by the acquisition of LDMI in the third quarter 2005 and the inclusion of its results from that date. The increase in revenue in 2004 from 2003 was due to an increase in local customer revenue, partially offset by a decline in long distance revenue. During 2004 and 2005, we increased certain fees and rates related to our long distance and local products and such changes in rates have adversely impacted customer turnover. Additional increases in fees and rates related to our long distance and local products will adversely affect customer turnover.

The increase in revenue from customers that are served by our own networking facilities, or on-net, to $75.2 million for 2005 from $3.4 million for 2004 was due to greater average lines in 2005 as compared to 2004 primarily as a result of the migration of customer lines to our own network and, to a lesser degree, the acquisition of LDMI. As of December 31, 2005, our voice and data equivalent lines on-net had increased to 341,000 from 25,000 as of December 31, 2004 and zero as of December 31, 2003.

The decrease in revenue from customers that are not served by our own networking facilities, or off-net, to $331.2 million for 2005 from $404.3 million for 2004 was due to fewer average lines in 2005 as compared to 2004, partially offset by an increase in average monthly revenue per customer. Our off-net voice and data equivalent lines declined during this period due both to the migration of off-net lines to our own network and, in areas where we were not building network, the attrition of customers leaving our services for those of other carriers. This decline was partially offset by increased off net lines as a result of the acquisition of LDMI. As of December 31, 2005, our off-net voice and data equivalent lines had decreased to 254,000 from 668,000 as of December 31, 2004. A significant increase in the costs we pay for network services from the incumbent local telephone carriers has caused us to cease marketing to new customers in markets where we do not currently have network facilities and, as a result of this, together with continued migrations to our network, we expect the decline in off-net revenues to continue in the future. The increase in off-net revenue to $404.3 million in 2004 from $282.3 million in 2003 was due to higher average bundled lines in 2004 as compared to 2003.

Long distance only and other revenue decreased for 2005 to $56.3 million from $63.3 million for 2004 and from $101.4 million in 2003. The acquisition of LDMI partially offset a decline in revenues from our existing long distance base in 2005. Our decision in 2000 to invest in building a bundled customer base, together with customer turnover, contributed to the decline in long distance customers and revenue, although the effect on revenue of the decline in customers was offset partially by an increase in average monthly revenue per customer due to price increases. We expect long distance customers and revenues to decline in the future.
 
5

Network and Line Costs. Network and line costs as a percentage of revenue increased in 2005 from 2004 due to the advanced build out of our Michigan network facilities, the under-utilization of our Ohio network facilities, line migration costs, additional network personnel costs, and increased unbundled network element platform costs. These cost increases more than offset the impact that fewer average bundled lines and long distance customers had on network and line costs and, together with the acquisition of LDMI, resulted in an increase in network and line costs for 2005 from 2004. To date, we have been able to increase our prices to offset per line increases in network and line cost, but these price increases will increase customer turnover. The increase of network and line costs in 2004 from 2003 was primarily due to the increase in bundled customers, partially offset by the decrease in long distance customers. Network and line costs as a percentage of revenue increased slightly in 2004 from 2003. Network and line costs exclude depreciation and amortization of $26.8  million for 2005, $6.2 million for 2004 and $3.4 million for 2003.

We accrue expenses for network costs that we believe we have incurred pursuant to our interconnection or commercial agreements with a particular supplier or tariffs but for which we have not yet been billed. This primarily occurs due to errors and omissions in billing on the part of our principal suppliers, the incumbent local exchange companies. Accrued expenses are eliminated upon the earlier of actual billing (including billing for charges appropriately recorded in prior periods but not invoiced, or “backbilling”) by the incumbent local exchange companies or the expiration of the time period for which we are liable for the charges. In addition, we accrue for network expense in a jurisdiction if there is expected to be regulatory or other legal changes in the jurisdiction that would retroactively increase the rates we have been charged. In Georgia, an appeals court overturned a rate reduction by the state public utility commission and ordered the commission to recalculate the rates charged to us. This issue is currently being considered by the state commission on remand from the court. The state commission has issued an order that will result in increased rates charged to us. We believe that the rates ultimately charged to us will be in excess of those previously allowed by the commission and have accrued accordingly.

We seek to structure and price our products in order to maintain network and line costs as a percentage of revenue at certain targeted levels. While the control of the structure and pricing of our products assists us in mitigating risks of increases in network and line costs, the telecommunications industry is highly competitive and there can be no assurances that we will be able to effectively market these higher priced products (see "Liquidity and Capital Resources - Other Matters," below).

General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses increased in 2005 from 2004. This increase was primarily attributable to the LDMI acquisition and to an increase in the number of information technology and network employees needed to support our local networking initiatives, partially offset by a reduction in the number of employees that support our base of off-net customers. As a result, general and administrative expense as a percentage of revenue increased in 2005 from 2004. General and administrative expenses also increased in 2004 from 2003. The increases were primarily due to the year-to-year increases in the number of employees for customer service and information technology to support our expanding base of bundled customers and our deployment of our local facilities. In addition, in 2004, the increase was partially attributable to a new operating lease for information technology equipment. General and administrative expense as a percentage of revenue decreased in 2004 from 2003. This decrease resulted from the efficiencies of a growing base of revenues relative to certain fixed operating expenses. Beginning in the first quarter of 2006, general and administrative expense will include expenses associated with the issuance of stock options pursuant to SFAS 123 R (see “Critical Accounting Estimates - New Accounting Pronouncements,” below).

6

Provision for Doubtful Accounts. The provision for doubtful accounts decreased in 2005 from 2004. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in the average number of customers and a decrease in bad debt expense as a percentage of revenues. The provision for doubtful accounts increased in 2004 from 2003. The increase was due to an increase in the number of customers and revenue as well an increase in bad debt expense as a percentage of revenues. The increase in bad debt as a percentage of revenue in 2004 was primarily due to reduced employee collection hours as a result of several hurricanes near our Florida customer service centers, an increase in market share outside of Michigan into states where we have experienced generally higher levels of bad debt and the consequences of our experiment, in an effort to expand our addressable market during 2004, with a new credit screening vendor and methodology to supplement our existing credit screening process. The change was meant to provide a credit score for potential customers for whom no score was available under our primary scoring methodology. Management believed that, in building the parameters for this new method, the bad debt would have been consistent with that of our primary method. In actuality, however, customers accepted through this new methodology had higher bad debt than customers accepted through our primary credit screening method. Thus, the influx of customers through the new methodology during the third quarter 2004 resulted in increased bad debt for the third and fourth quarters 2004. Based on these actual results, we ceased utilizing this supplemental screening methodology.

Sales and Marketing Expenses. Sales and marketing expenses decreased significantly in 2005 from 2004. The decreases are attributable to the decrease of sales and marketing activity related to our bundled product, including decreased headcount and reduced direct mail and media expenses due to our reduced efforts to increase subscriber growth in markets where we do not have, or plan to deploy network facilities. Included in sales and marketing expenses are advertising expenses of $3.8 million for 2005, $10.5 million for 2004 and $7.5 million for 2003. We expect sales and marketing expenses to increase in 2006 as we expand our marketing efforts commensurate with the growth of our networking footprint. Sales and marketing expense increased in 2004 from 2003 primarily due to our increased efforts to attract new bundled customers during 2004.

Interest Expense. The decreases in interest expense for 2005 from 2004 and for 2004 from 2003 are primarily attributable to the decreases in outstanding debt balances.

Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization increased in 2005 from 2004 primarily due to increased depreciation related to the reduction in the remaining useful lives of our long distance switches and capital expenditures incurred in 2004 and 2005 related to our deployment of networking assets (our local switching and collocation equipment) in Michigan and depreciation and amortization related to the LDMI acquisition. In December 2004, in connection with a review of our fixed assets, the estimated remaining useful lives of our five long distance switches were shortened from an average of 8 years to 1.6 years. This change had the effect of increasing depreciation in 2005 and 2004 by $15.1 million and $1.4 million, respectively. Depreciation increased in 2004 over 2003 due to the increased depreciation related to the reduction in the remaining useful lives of our long distance switches.
 
Other Income, Net. Other income for 2005 and 2004 consists of income recorded as a result of the statutory expiration of the liability for certain sales and use taxes reserves. Other income for 2003 consists of gains from our repurchase of a portion of our 12% Senior Subordinated Notes at a discount to par.

7

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

We assess our liquidity in terms of our ability to generate cash to fund our operations, our capital expenditures and our debt service obligations. For 2005 and 2004, our operating activities provided net cash flow of $72.0 million and $74.6 million, respectively. In 2005, all of the net cash flow from operating activities was used to fund capital expenditures and capitalized software development costs and the acquisition of LDMI. In 2004, the net cash flow from operating activities was used primarily to reduce our outstanding debt obligations. As of December 31, 2005, we had $46.3 million in cash and cash equivalents and long-term debt and capital lease obligations (including current maturities) of $5.3 million, compared to $47.5 million and $4.2 million, respectively, at December 31, 2004.

Our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2005 are summarized by years to maturity as follows (in thousands):

Contractual Obligations
   
Total
   
Less than
1 year
   
1 - 3
Years
   
3 - 5
Years
   
More than
5 Years
 
Vendor financing agreement (1)
 
$
1,220
 
$
1,220
 
$
--
 
$
--
 
$
--
 
Capital lease obligations
   
4,057
   
2,768
   
1,289
   
--
   
--
 
Vendor financed maintenance (1)
   
561
   
561
   
--
   
--
   
--
 
Operating leases (2)
   
21,509
   
5,175
   
5,813
   
4,777
   
5,744
 
Purchase commitments (3)
   
588
   
588
   
--
   
--
   
--
 
Invoice printing commitment (4)
   
3,730
   
1,213
   
2,517
   
--
   
--
 
Carrier commitments (5)
   
73,296
   
37,637
   
35,586
   
48
   
25
 
                                 
Total Contractual Obligations
 
$
104,961
 
$
49,162
 
$
45,205
 
$
4,825
 
$
5,769
 

(1)  In May 2004, in connection with the purchase of software, we entered into a loan agreement with the software supplier for $3.1 million payable over 36 months at a 2.9% annual interest rate. The agreement includes $2.5 million of software and an annual maintenance contract of $0.6 million. In addition, we agreed to renew the maintenance agreement for an additional two years at the cost of $0.6 million per year, which is funded on the anniversary dates. As of December 31, 2005, there was approximately $1.2 million outstanding under this loan. In addition, capital lease obligations also have associated interest expense of $0.4 million.

(2) As of December 31, 2005, our contractual obligations under operating leases are primarily for leased facility space.

(3) At December 31, 2005, we had outstanding purchase orders for capital expenditures of $0.6 million.

(4) We have a contract with our invoice printing company that establishes pricing and provides for annual minimum payments.

(5) In December 2003, we entered into a four-year master carrier agreement with AT&T. The agreement provides us with a variety of services, including transmission facilities to connect our network switches as well as services for international calls, local traffic, international calling cards, overflow traffic and operator assisted calls. The agreement also provides that, subject to certain terms and conditions, we will purchase these services exclusively from AT&T during the term of the agreement, provided, however, that we are not obligated to purchase exclusively in certain cases, including if such purchases would result in a breach of any contract with another carrier that was in place when we entered into the AT&T agreement, or if vendor diversity is required. Our AT&T agreement establishes pricing and provides for annual minimum commitments based upon usage as follows: 2006 - $32 million and 2007 - $32 million and obligates us to pay 65 percent of the revenue shortfall, if any. In February 2006, we amended the AT&T agreement to provide that certain services that we purchase or may purchase from AT&T (and its affiliates) will now count toward the minimum commitment. With this amendment we anticipate that we will not be required to make any shortfall payments under this contract. In addition to the AT&T commitment, we have other commitments with various other vendors for telecommunication services.

Cash provided by (used for):

       
Percent Change
 
2005
2004
2003
2005 vs. 2004
2004 vs. 2003
Operating activities
$ 72,012
$ 74,595
$ 73,171
(3.5%)
1.9%
Investing activities
(76,003)
(16,497)
(14,715)
(360.7%)
(12.1%)
Financing activities
2,787
(45,848)
(56,802)
106.1%
19.3%
 

8

Cash Provided By Operating Activities. Cash generated by operations decreased by $2.6 million in 2005 from 2004 and increased by $1.4 million in 2004 from 2003. Although cash generated from operations has been relatively flat for 2005, 2004 and 2003, the composition of the cash flow has changed considerably. During 2005, we experienced significantly lower sales and marketing expense, which offset decreased revenue and increased network cost and general and administrative expense. We expect that our cash flow from operations will decline in 2006 as we experience higher sales and marketing expense as a result of our efforts to expand growth in areas where we have networking assets. The application of net operating loss carryforwards, or NOLs, in 2005, 2004 and 2003 has limited our current payment of income taxes to cash taxes for alternative minimum taxes and certain state income taxes, but we expect that Talk America’s NOLs will be substantially utilized during 2006. The use of NOLs acquired in the LDMI acquisition will be limited, with the benefit spread through 2018.

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities. Capital expenditures increased by $32.3 million during 2005 as compared to 2004 and capitalized software development costs increased by $0.5 million. In 2005, approximately $40.0 million of our $45.2 million in capital expenditures consisted of costs related to our deployment of networking assets (local switch and collocation equipment) in Michigan. In 2004, approximately 37% of our $13.0 million in capital expenditures consisted of costs related to our deployment of networking assets (local switch and collocation equipment) in Michigan, up from 66% of our $5.5 million in 2003. Also in 2003, to support our customer growth, we opened a new customer service call center. The remaining 2003 capital expenditures consisted primarily of upgrades to our information technology capabilities to support our customer growth. In addition, during 2004 we entered into a vendor financing agreement for new database software valued at $2.5 million and during 2003, we entered into a capital lease valued at $3.4 million for upgrades to our customer data storage equipment.

We expect to spend between $25.0 and $30.0 million in capital expenditures and capitalized software in 2006, primarily for the build out of the Atlanta networking facilities and expansion of our Michigan network facilities.

The acquisition of LDMI on July 13, 2005, required the payment of $21.3 million in cash ($24.0 million less cash acquired of $2.7 million) and the issuance of 1.8 million shares of our common stock for the purchase of all of the equity of LDMI and the repayment of $4.7 million in debt. The acquisition of NTC on January 3, 2006, required the payment of $18.0 million in cash for the purchase of all of the equity of NTC. To the extent that we are successful in identifying and completing additional acquisitions of customers, networking assets or businesses, net cash used in investing activities may increase.

Net Cash Used in Financing Activities. Net cash provided by financing activities during 2005 was $2.8 million, primarily attributable to proceeds from the exercise of stock options and warrants. Net cash used in financing activities during 2004 was $45.8 million, primarily attributable to the repayment of outstanding debt. During 2004, we redeemed $40.7 million of our 12% Senior Subordinated Notes, $2.8 million of our 8% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes and $0.7 million of our 5% Convertible Subordinated Notes, representing the respective entire principal amounts outstanding as of December 31, 2003. On June 1, 2004, we announced that our Board of Directors had authorized a share buyback program for us to purchase up to $50 million of our outstanding shares. The shares may be purchased from time to time, in the open market and/or private transactions. Through December 31, 2005, we had not purchased any shares under this program. 

In recent years we have been meeting our ongoing cash requirements (including for the conduct of our operations, acquisitions and capital expenditures) from our cash on-hand and from cash generated from operations. However, our continued growth, including additional acquisitions, may require that we seek alternative sources of funding. While we believe that we would have access to new capital in the public or private markets, there can be no assurance as to the timing, amounts, terms or conditions of any such new capital or whether it could be obtained on terms acceptable to us. Based on our current projections for operations, we believe that our cash on-hand and our cash flow from operations will be sufficient to fund our currently contemplated capital expenditures, our debt service obligations and the expenses of conducting our operations for at least the next twelve months. However, there can be no assurance that we will be able to realize our projected cash flows from operations, which is subject to the risks and uncertainties discussed in this report, or that we will not be required to consider capital expenditures in excess of those currently contemplated, as discussed in this Form 10-K Annual Report.

9

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an on-going basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those related to bad debt, goodwill and intangible assets, income taxes, contingencies and litigation. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Network and Line Costs

We accrue expenses for network costs that we believe we have incurred pursuant to our interconnection agreements with a particular supplier or tariffs but for which we have not yet been billed. This primarily occurs due to errors and omissions in billing on the part of our principal suppliers, the incumbent local exchange companies. In addition, we accrue for network expense in a jurisdiction if there is expected to be regulatory or other legal changes in the jurisdiction which would retroactively increase the rates we have been charged. For example, in Georgia an appeals court overturned a recent rate reduction by the state public utility commission and ordered the commission to re-calculate our rates. This issue is currently being considered by the state commission and we expect that the issue will be resolved by the middle of 2006. We believe that these rates will be in excess of those previously allowed and have accrued accordingly.

Accrued expenses are eliminated upon the earlier of actual billing (including billing for charges appropriately recorded in prior periods but not invoiced, or “backbilling”) by the incumbent local exchange companies or the expiration of the time period for which we are liable for the charges. The time period is governed by interconnection agreements or, in the absence of a specific agreement, by the statute of limitations operative in a given state. As the expiration of the statute of limitations occurred, we have reduced, and will reduce in the future, our liability for this exposure as there is no further legal recourse the supplier can take in collecting these amounts.

Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts

Allowances for doubtful accounts are maintained for estimated losses resulting from the failure of customers to make required payments on their accounts. We review accounts receivable aging trends, historical bad debt trends, and customer credit-worthiness through customer credit scores, current economic trends and changes in customer payment history when evaluating the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful accounts. In addition, we review the financial condition of the carriers that pay us access charges to assess their ability to make payments.

Valuation of Long-Lived Assets and Intangible Assets with a Definite Life

We review the recoverability of the carrying value of long-lived assets, including intangibles with a definite life, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. When such events occur, we compare the carrying amount of the assets to the undiscounted expected future cash flows from them. Factors we consider important that could trigger an impairment review include the following:

 
·
Significant underperformance relative to historical or projected future operating results
 
·
Significant changes in the manner of our use of the acquired assets or expected useful lives of the assets or the strategy for our overall business
 
·
Significant negative regulatory, industry or economic trends
 
·
Significant decline in our stock price for a sustained period and market capitalization relative to net book value

Long-lived assets are grouped with other assets and liabilities at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. Since we provide integrated telecommunications services with our asset groups not being independent of each other, our assets are viewed as being of a single asset group and impairment testing is conducted at the entity level. Estimates of future cash flows used to test recoverability are made for the remaining useful life of the primary asset of the asset group. Cash flows are estimated using management’s current view of the operating and financial prospects of the asset group. If this comparison indicates there is impairment, the amount of the impairment loss to be recorded is calculated by the excess of the net assets’ carrying value over its fair value and is typically calculated using discounted expected future cash flows.

10

Goodwill and Intangible Assets with Indeterminate Lives

Goodwill represents the cost in excess of the fair value of the net assets of acquired companies. Effective January 1, 2002, with the adoption of SFAS No. 142, goodwill (comprised of goodwill acquired in the Access One acquisition in August 2000) will not be amortized, but rather will be tested for impairment annually, and will be tested for impairment between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would indicate the carrying amount may be impaired. Impairment testing for goodwill is performed at a reporting unit level; we determined that we have one reporting unit under the guidance of SFAS No. 142. An impairment loss would generally be recognized when the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s net assets exceeds the estimated fair value of the reporting unit. Fair value for the reporting unit is based on a discounted cash flow analysis and consideration of the current market value of our common stock. Cash flows are estimated using management’s current view of the operating and financial prospects of the business. A discount rate of 18% was used in the discounted cash flow analysis.

Income Taxes
 
Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. During 2005 and 2004, we recorded income taxes at a rate equal to our combined federal and state effective rates. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.

We consider all available evidence, both positive and negative, to determine whether, based on the weight of that evidence, a valuation allowance is needed for some portion or all of a net deferred tax asset. Judgment is used in considering the relative impact of negative and positive evidence. In arriving at these judgments, the weight given to the potential effect of negative and positive evidence is commensurate with the extent to which it can be objectively verified. We record a valuation allowance to reduce our deferred tax assets and review the amount of such allowance annually. If we determine deferred tax assets will more likely than not be utilized, we will reduce our valuation allowance accordingly.

New Accounting Pronouncements
 
In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (SFAS 123R). SFAS 123R requires that compensation cost related to share-based payment transactions, including the issuance of stock options, be recognized in the financial statements. Currently, we account for our share-based payment transactions under the provisions of APB 25, which does not necessarily require the recognition of compensation cost in the consolidated statement of income in the financial statements.
 
In response to the accounting standard referenced above, the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors, which consists entirely of independent directors, as well as the full Board of Directors, unanimously approved accelerating on December 28, 2005, the vesting of certain out-of-the-money, unvested stock options held by current employees, including our executive officers and directors. The acceleration applied only to those options with an exercise price of $10.49 per share, and granted on December 22, 2003. The closing market price of our common stock on December 27, 2005 was $9.02 per share. The following table summarizes the options subject to acceleration:

 
11


 
  
Aggregate Number of 
Common Stock Shares Issuable
Under Accelerated Stock Options
  
Weighted Average
Exercise Price
Per Share
 
Total Non-Employee Directors
  
11,666
  
$10.49
 
 
Total Named Executive Officers (1)
  
159,998
  
$10.49
 
 
Total Directors and Named Executive Officers
  
171,664
  
$10.49
 
 
Total All Other Employees
  
176,185
  
$10.49
 
 
Total (2)
  
347,849
  
$10.49
 

(1) Named executive officers consist of the officers listed in The Summary Compensation Table in Part III, Item 11. Executive Compensation of this Form 10-K Annual Report.
(2) The accelerated options represent approximately 7.0% of total outstanding options.

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK.

In the normal course of business, our financial position is subject to a variety of risks, such as the collectibility of our accounts receivable and the recoverability of the carrying values of our long-term assets. Our long-term obligations consist primarily of long-term debt with fixed interest rates. We do not presently enter into any transactions involving derivative financial instruments for risk management or other purposes.

Our available cash balances are invested on a short-term basis (generally overnight) and, accordingly, are not subject to significant risks associated with changes in interest rates. Substantially all of our cash flows are derived from our operations within the United States and we are not subject to market risk associated with changes in foreign exchange rates.



 
12

ITEM 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.

TALK AMERICA HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

   
PAGE
     
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
 14
Consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003
 
 15
Consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2005 and 2004
 
 16
Consolidated statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003
 
 17
Consolidated statements of stockholders' equity for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003
 
 18
Notes to consolidated financial statements
 
 19


13


 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and
Shareholders of Talk America Holdings, Inc.:

We have completed integrated audits of Talk America Holdings, Inc.’s 2005 and 2004 consolidated financial statements and of its internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, and an audit of its 2003 consolidated financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Our opinions, based on our audits, are presented below.

Consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements listed in the index appearing under Item 15(a)(1) present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Talk America Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) at December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2005 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. In addition, in our opinion, the financial statement schedule listed in the index appearing under Item 15 (a)(2) presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements. These financial statements and financial statements schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit of financial statements includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Internal control over financial reporting

Also, in our opinion, management’s assessment, included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A, that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of 2005 based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), is fairly stated, in all material respects, based on those criteria. Furthermore, in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the COSO. The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express opinions on management’s assessment and on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We conducted our audit of internal control over financial reporting in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. An audit of internal control over financial reporting includes obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, evaluating management’s assessment, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing such other procedures as we consider necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinions.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. 

As described in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting, management has excluded LDMI Telecommunications, Inc. ("LDMI") from its assessment of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005 because it was acquired by the Company in a purchase business combination during 2005. LDMI is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company that represented approximately 24% and 10% of the Company's total assets and total revenue, respectively, as of and for the year ended December 31, 2005.


PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March 27, 2006

14





TALK AMERICA HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except for per share data)

   
Year Ended December 31,
 
     
2005
   
2004
   
2003
 
                     
Revenue
 
$
462,740
 
$
471,012
 
$
383,693
 
                     
Costs and expenses:
                   
Network and line costs (excluding depreciation
      shown below)
   
243,925
   
225,244
   
173,349
 
General and administrative expenses
   
82,127
   
72,020
   
63,104
 
Provision for doubtful accounts
   
19,114
   
21,313
   
11,599
 
Sales and marketing expenses
   
29,863
   
70,202
   
51,008
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
44,937
   
22,904
   
18,345
 
Total costs and expenses
   
419,966
   
411,683
   
317,405
 
                     
Operating income
   
42,774
   
59,329
   
66,288
 
Other income (expense):
                   
Interest income
   
1,007
   
290
   
388
 
Interest expense
   
(350
)
 
(733
)
 
(7,353
)
Other income, net
   
974
   
1,895
   
2,470
 
Income before provision (benefit) for income taxes
   
44,405
   
60,781
   
61,793
 
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
   
18,244
   
23,969
   
(20,024
)
                     
Net income
 
$
26,161
 
$
36,812
 
$
81,817
 
                     
Income per share - Basic:
                   
Net income per share
 
$
0.91
 
$
1.37
 
$
3.10
 
                     
Weighted average common shares outstanding
   
28,675
   
26,847
   
26,376
 
                     
Income per share - Diluted:
                   
Net income per share
 
$
0.89
 
$
1.32
 
$
2.94
 
                     
Weighted average common and common equivalent
      shares outstanding
   
29,296
   
27,854
   
27,806
 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
15


TALK AMERICA HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except for share and per share data)

   
December 31,
2005
 
December 31,
2004
 
               
Assets
             
Current assets:
             
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
46,288
 
$
47,492
 
Accounts receivable, trade (net of allowance for uncollectible accounts of $13,838 and $17,508 at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively)
   
43,600
   
48,873
 
Deferred income taxes
   
18,096
   
34,815
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
   
10,297
   
6,888
 
Total current assets
   
118,281
   
138,068
 
               
Property and equipment, net
   
98,492
   
65,823
 
Goodwill
   
36,479
   
13,013
 
Intangible assets, net
   
4,934
   
1,966
 
Deferred income taxes
   
21,033
   
14,291
 
Capitalized software cost and other assets
   
9,470
   
8,567
 
   
$
288,689
 
$
241,728
 
               
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
             
Current liabilities:
             
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
 
$
40,025
 
$
38,843
 
Sales, use and excise taxes
   
7,316
   
11,179
 
Deferred revenue
   
13,824
   
15,321
 
Current portion of long-term debt and capitalized lease obligations
   
3,988
   
2,529
 
Accrued compensation
   
9,405
   
6,690
 
Other current liabilities
   
14,181
   
10,022
 
Total current liabilities
 
$
88,739
 
$
84,584
 
               
Long-term debt and capitalized lease obligations
   
1,289
   
1,717
 
               
Deferred income taxes
   
4,853
   
13,906
 
               
Asset retirement obligation
   
2,021
   
--
 
               
Commitments and contingencies
             
               
Stockholders' equity:
             
Preferred stock - $.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized; no shares outstanding
   
--
   
--
 
Common stock - $.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized; 30,368,267 and 27,037,096 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively
   
317
   
284
 
Additional paid-in capital
   
380,481
   
356,409
 
Accumulated deficit
   
(184,011
)
 
(210,172
)
Treasury stock - at cost, 1,315,789 shares at December 31, 2005 and 2004
   
(5,000
)
 
(5,000
)
Total stockholders' equity
   
191,787
   
141,521
 
   
$
288,689
 
$
241,728
 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
16



TALK AMERICA HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
 
 
 
Year Ended December 31, 
     
2005
   
2004
   
2003
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
                   
    Net income
 
$
26,161
 
$
36,812
 
$
81,817
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
                   
Provision for doubtful accounts
   
19,114
   
21,313
   
11,599
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
44,937
   
22,904
   
18,345
 
Other non-cash charges
   
378
   
13
   
22
 
Non-cash interest
   
96
   
(956
)
 
(260
)
Gain from extinguishment of debt
   
--
   
--
   
(2,476
)
Deferred income taxes
   
14,928
   
19,588
   
(23,411
)
                     
Changes in assets and liabilities:
                   
Accounts receivable, trade
   
(2,490
)
 
(29,865
)
 
(24,077
)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
   
3,405
   
(900
)
 
(1,533
)
Other assets
   
(15
)
 
60
   
1,410
 
Accounts payable
   
(19,937
)
 
5,189
   
3,799
 
Deferred revenue
   
(4,626
)
 
4,448
   
4,393
 
Sales, use and excise taxes
   
(8,414
)
 
(2,342
)
 
2,082
 
Accrued compensation
   
(274
)
 
(3,198
)
 
4,279
 
Other current liabilities
   
(1,251
)
 
1,529
   
(2,818
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
   
72,012
   
74,595
   
73,171
 
                     
Cash flows from investing activities:
                   
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets
   
70
   
--
   
--
 
Acquisition of LDMI, net of cash acquired
   
(26,850
)
 
--
   
--
 
Acquisition of intangibles
   
--
   
--
   
(133
)
Capital expenditures
   
(45,234
)
 
(12,963
)
 
(11,844
)
Capitalized software development costs
   
(3,989
)
 
(3,534
)
 
(2,738
)
Net cash used in investing activities
   
(76,003
)
 
(16,497
)
 
(14,715
)
                     
Cash flows from financing activities:
                   
Payments on borrowings
   
--
   
(45,273
)
 
(52,918
)
Payments of capital lease obligations
   
(2,230
)
 
(1,228
)
 
(61
)
Proceeds from exercise of options and warrants
   
5,017
   
653
   
1,177
 
Purchase of treasury stock
   
--
   
--
   
(5,000
)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
   
2,787
   
(45,848
)
 
(56,802
)
                     
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
   
(1,204
)
 
12,250
   
1,654
 
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
   
47,492
   
35,242
   
33,588
 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year
 
$
46,288
 
$
47,492
 
$
35,242
 


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 

 
17


TALK AMERICA HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
(In thousands)

                 
Additional 
                         
 
   
Common Stock 
   
Paid In
    Accumulated     
Treasury Stock 
     
      Shares      Amount     
Capital 
   
Deficit 
   
Shares 
   
Amount 
   
Total 
 
                                             
Balance, December 31, 2002
   
27,470
 
$
275
 
$
351,992
 
$
(328,801
)
 
--
 
$
--
 
$
23,466
 
                                             
Net income
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
81,817
   
--
   
--
   
81,817
 
Acquisition of treasury stock
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
1,316
   
(5,000
)
 
(5,000
)
Exercise of common stock options
   
509
   
5
   
1,172
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
1,177
 
Income tax benefit related to exercise of common stock options
   
--
   
--
   
1,683
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
1,683
 
 
Balance, December 31, 2003
   
27,979
   
280
   
354,847
   
(246,984
)
 
1,316
   
(5,000
)
 
103,143
 
                                             
Net income
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
36,812
   
--
   
--
   
36,812
 
Exercise of common stock options
   
374
   
4
   
658
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
662
 
Income tax benefit related to exercise of common stock options
   
--
   
--
   
904
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
904
 
Balance, December 31, 2004
   
28,353
   
284
   
356,409
   
(210,172
)
 
1,316
   
(5,000
)
 
141,521
 
                                             
Net income
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
26,161
   
--
   
--
   
26,161
 
Exercise of common stock options
   
1,531
   
15
   
5,002
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
5,017
 
Income tax benefit related to exercise of common stock options
   
--
   
--
   
3,126
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
3,126
  
Common stock issued in connection with acquisition of LDMI
   
1,800
   
18
   
15,944
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
15,962
 
Balance, December 31, 2005
   
31,684
 
$
317
 
$
380,481
 
$
(184,011
)
 
1,316
 
$
(5,000
)
$
191,787
 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
18


 
TALK AMERICA HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1. SUMMARY OF BUSINESS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

(a)  Business

Talk America Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, offers voice and data services to residential and small business customers in the United States. We offer these services to customers in our markets by one of the following methods: through the use of our own network facilities and the unbundled network element loops or T-1 circuits of the incumbent local exchange carriers or through wholesale agreements with other carriers. We have developed integrated order processing, provisioning, billing, payment, collection, customer service and information systems that enable us to offer and deliver high-quality service, savings through competitively priced telecommunication products, and simplicity through consolidated billing and responsive customer service. We operate our own sales and customer service centers. We manage our business as one reportable operating segment.

(b)  Basis of Financial Statements Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Talk America Holdings, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

(c)  Use of Estimates

In preparing financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements and revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

(d)  Reclassifications

Certain amounts for 2004 and 2003 have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

(e)  Risks and Uncertainties

Future results of operations involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could affect future operating results and cash flows and cause actual results to vary materially from historical results include, but are not limited to:

 
·
Our ability to successfully integrate business that we acquire, including but not limited to LDMI and NTC
 
·
Dependence on the availability and functionality of the networks of the incumbent local exchange carriers
 
·
Increased price and product competition in commercial and residential voice and data services, and overall competition within the telecommunications industry

Negative developments in these areas could have a material effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

19

(f)  Concentration of Credit Risk

We maintain our cash and cash equivalents in bank deposit accounts, which at times may exceed federally insured limits. We generally do not have a significant concentration of credit risk with respect to net trade accounts receivable, due to the large number of end users comprising our customer base.
 
(g) Recognition of Revenue

We derive our revenues primarily from voice and data services. We recognize revenue from voice, data and other telecommunications-related services in the period in which subscribers use the related service. Deferred revenue represents the unearned portion of voice and data services and features that are billed a month in advance.

We also derive access revenue from long-distance companies for access to our network in connection with the completion of long-distance telephone calls. We recognize access revenue based on minutes of traffic captured in a given period. Access revenue represented less than five percent of total revenue for 2005, 2004 and 2003.

 
(h) Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts

Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoice amount. The allowance for doubtful accounts is our best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in our existing accounts receivable. We determine the allowance based on historical write-off experience. We review our allowance for doubtful accounts monthly. Account balances are charged off against the allowance when we feel it is probable the receivable will not be recovered. We do not have any off balance sheet credit exposure related to our customers.

Receivables consist of trade accounts receivables of $57.4 million and $66.4 million at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Following are the changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts during the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 (in thousands):

Year Ended December 31,
 
Balance at Beginning of Year
 
Acquired
Balances
 
 
Provision
 
 
Write-offs Net of Recoveries
 
Balance at End of Year
 
                                 
2005
 
$
17,508
 
$
1,589
   
19,114
   
(24,373
)
$
13,838
 
2004
 
$
9,414
   
--
   
21,313
   
(13,219
)
$
17,508
 
2003
 
$
7,821
   
--
   
11,599
   
(10,006
)
$
9,414
 

(i)  Cash and Cash Equivalents

We consider all temporary cash investments purchased with an initial maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

20

(j)  Property and Equipment and Depreciation

Property and equipment are recorded at historical cost. Depreciation and amortization are calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets from 1 to 39 years. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the life of the related lease or asset, whichever is shorter. Capital leases are included in property and equipment with corresponding amortization included in accumulated depreciation. Capital lease assets are amortized over the useful life of the respective assets, or the lease term, whichever is shorter.

Repair and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. Significant improvements extending the useful life of property are capitalized. When property is retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost of the property and the related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts, and any resulting gains or losses are reflected in the consolidated statement of operations.

(k)  Computer Software Development Costs

Direct development costs associated with internal-use computer software are accounted for under Statement of Position 98-1 "Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use" and are capitalized including direct payroll costs for employees devoting time to the software projects. Costs incurred during the preliminary project stage, as well as for maintenance and training are expensed as incurred. Amortization is provided on a straight-line basis over the shorter of 3 years or the estimated useful life of the software.

Development costs for internally used computer software included in capitalized software and other assets at December 31, 2005 and 2004 were $6.4 million and $5.7 million, respectively, net of accumulated amortization of $7.8 million and $4.5 million, respectively, at December 31, 2005 and 2004. Amortization expense was $3.3 million and $2.4 million, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004.

(l)  Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Effective January 1, 2002, we adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets," which establishes the impairment approach rather than amortization for goodwill and intangible assets with indeterminate lives. We do not record amortization expense on goodwill, but instead are required to evaluate these assets for potential impairment at least annually and test for impairment between annual tests, which we conduct in the second quarter, if an event occurs or circumstances change that would indicate the carrying amount may be impaired.

We conducted our annual goodwill impairment test in the second quarter of 2005 and determined that it was not impaired.

Intangible assets at December 31, 2005 are comprised of items that have been acquired as a result of the acquisition of LDMI and consist primarily of purchased customer accounts and trademarks. The customer list is being amortized over a 3 year period using expected customer turnover rates. The trademark is being amortized on a straight line basis over a 2 year period.

Amortization expense on intangible assets with a definite life was $3.1 million for December 31, 2005, $2.7 million for December 31, 2004 and $2.8 million for December 31, 2003. Intangible assets with a definite life amounted to $4.6 million at December 31, 2005, net of accumulated amortization of $1.5 million. Amortization expense on intangible assets with a definite life is expected to be $2.8 million, $1.4 million, and $0.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively.
 
21

(m)  Valuation of Long-Lived Assets  

We review the recoverability of the carrying value of long-lived assets, including intangible assets with a definite life, for impairment using the methodology prescribed in SFAS 144 whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. Based on regulatory changes and the shortening of the remaining useful lives of our long distance switches in the fourth quarter of 2004, we tested for impairment of our long lived assets and determined that they were not impaired.
 
(n)  Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Accordingly, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized currently for the future tax consequences attributable to the temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. A valuation allowance is recorded to reduce the carrying amounts of deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not that such assets will not be realized.

(o)  Net Income Per Share

Basic earnings per share for a period computed by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the effect of common shares issuable upon exercise of stock options, warrants and conversion of convertible debt, when such effect is not antidilutive.

(p)  Financial Instruments

The carrying values of accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other current assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate their fair values.

22

(q)  Stock-Based Compensation

We account for our stock option awards under the intrinsic value based method of accounting prescribed by APB Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees," and related interpretations, including FASB Interpretation No. 44 "Accounting for Certain Transactions Including Stock Compensation," an interpretation of APB Opinion No. 25. Under the intrinsic value based method, compensation cost is the excess, if any, of the quoted market price of the stock at grant date or other measurement date over the amount an employee must pay to acquire the stock. We make pro forma disclosures of net income and earnings per share as if the fair value based method of accounting had been applied as required by SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation" and SFAS 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation - Transition and Disclosure - an amendment of SFAS 123”. The following disclosure complies with the adoption of this statement and includes pro forma net income as if the fair value based method of accounting had been applied:

   
Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands)
 
 
   
2005
   
2004
   
2003
 
Net income as reported
 
$
26,161
 
$
36,812
 
$
81,817
 
Add: Stock-based employee compensation expense included in reported net income, net of taxes
   
3
   
5
   
--
 
Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all options, net of taxes
   
(3,491
)
 
(5,308
)
 
(1,348
)
Pro forma net income
 
$
22,673
 
$
31,509
 
$
80,469
 

 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
 
 
2005
 
 
2004
 
 
2003
 
Basic earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As reported
 
$
0.91
 
$
1.37
 
$
3.10
 
Pro forma
 
$
0.79
 
$
1.17
 
$
3.05
 
Diluted earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As reported
 
$
0.89
 
$
1.32
 
$
2.94
 
Pro forma
 
$
0.77
 
$
1.15
 
$
2.94
 
 
For purposes of pro forma disclosures under SFAS 123, the estimated fair value of the options is assumed to be amortized to expense over the options' vesting period. The fair value of the options granted has been estimated at the various dates of the grants using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:

· Fair market value based on our closing common stock price on the date the option is granted;
· Risk-free interest rate based on the weighted averaged 5 year U.S. treasury note strip rates;
· Volatility based on the historical stock price over the expected term (5 years);
· No expected dividend yield based on future dividend payment plans.

23

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payments” (SFAS 123R) which replaces SFAS 123 and supersedes APB 25. Under the new standard, companies will no longer be allowed to account for stock-based compensation transactions using the intrinsic value method in accordance with APB 25. Instead, companies will be required to account for such transactions using a fair value method and to recognize the expense in the statements of operations. The adoption of SFAS 123R will require additional accounting related to the income tax effects of share-based payment arrangements and additional disclosure of their cash flow impacts. SFAS 123R also allows, but does not require, companies to restate prior periods. We will adopt the provisions of SFAS 123R beginning January 1, 2006, using the modified prospective transition method. Under the modified prospective method, non-cash compensation expense will be recognized for the portion of outstanding stock option awards granted prior to the adoption of SFAS 123R for which service has not been rendered, and for future stock option grants. We currently estimate the related compensation expense for 2006 will be approximately $5 million.

In response to the issuance of SFAS 123R, on December 22, 2005, our Board of Directors approved the acceleration of vesting of 347,849 out-of-the-money stock options with an exercise price of $10.49 and held by current employees including executive officers and Board members. As a result, the 2005 pro forma stock-based employee compensation expense disclosed above includes $891,000 ($525,000 after tax) of compensation expense that will now not be recognized in future statements of operations subsequent to the adoption of SFAS 123R.

(r)  Comprehensive Income

We have no items of comprehensive income or expense. Accordingly, our comprehensive income and net income are equal for all periods presented.

(s) Advertising

We expense advertising costs as they are incurred. Advertising expenses totaled approximately $3.8 million, $10.5 million, and $7.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

(t) Asset Retirement Obligation (ARO)

We recognize ARO in accordance with SFAS 143 “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations.” SFAS 143 provides accounting and reporting standards for costs associated with the retirement of long-lived assets and requires entities to record the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation in the period in which it is incurred. When the liability is initially recorded, the entity capitalizes the cost by increasing the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. Over time, the liability is accreted to its present value, and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the estimated useful life of the related asset. Upon settlement of the liability, an entity either settles the obligations for its recorded amount or incurs a gain or loss

Our ARO primarily relates to restoration of leased facilities that house our networking equipment. During 2005, we expanded our networking footprint to support our transformation into a network-based telecommunications provider. This expansion resulted in an increase in our ARO due to the significant build out of our network, the acquisition of LDMI (See Note 13), and changes in cost of restoration estimates based on increased experience as a network-based provider. Changes in ARO were as follows (in thousands):
       
     
2005
 
Balance at January 1,
 
$
--
 
Acquisitions (See Note 14)
   
1,249
 
Additions
   
613
 
Revisions
   
1,004
 
Accretion
   
96
 
Retirement
   
(42
)
Balance at December 31,
 
$
2,920
 

No assets are legally restricted for the purposes of settling our ARO.


24

NOTE 2. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

(a)  Lease Agreements

We lease facility space and equipment under operating and capital lease agreements. Certain leases contain renewal options and purchase options, and generally provide that we shall pay for insurance, taxes and maintenance. Total rent expense for all operating leases for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 was $6.1 million, $3.2 million, and $1.9 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2005, we had future minimum annual lease obligations under noncancellable leases with terms in excess of one year as follows (in thousands):

Year Ended December 31,
 
Operating Leases
 
Capital Leases
 
Total
 
2006
 
$
5,175
 
$
3,059
 
$
8,234
 
2007
   
3,135
   
1,056
   
4,191
 
2008
   
2,678
   
346
   
3,024
 
2009
   
2,657
   
--
   
2,657
 
2010
   
2,120
   
--
   
2,120
 
Thereafter
   
5,744
   
--
   
5,744
 
Total minimum lease payments
   
21,509
   
4,461
   
25,970
 
Less: interest
         
404
       
Present value of minimum lease payments
         
4,057
       
Less: current installments
         
2,768
       
Long-term obligations
         
1,289
       


(b)  Legal Proceedings

We are party to a number of legal actions and proceedings arising from our provision and marketing of telecommunications services (including matters involving do not call and billing regulations), as well as certain legal actions and regulatory matters arising in the ordinary course of business. We believe that the ultimate outcome of the foregoing actions will not result in a liability that would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

(c)  Commitments

We are party to various network service agreements, which contain certain minimum usage commitments. In December 2003, we entered into a four-year master carrier agreement with AT&T. The agreement provides us with a variety of services, including transmission facilities to connect our network switches as well as services for international calls, local traffic, international calling cards, overflow traffic and operator assisted calls. The agreement also provides that, subject to certain terms and conditions, we will purchase these services exclusively from AT&T during the term of the agreement, provided, however, that we are not obligated to purchase exclusively in certain cases, including if such purchases would result in a breach of any contract with another carrier that was in place when we entered into the AT&T agreement or if vendor diversity is required. Certain of our network service agreements, including the AT&T agreement contain certain minimum usage commitments. Our AT&T agreement establishes pricing and provides for annual minimum commitments based upon usage as follows: 2006 - $32 million and 2007 - $32 million and obligates us to pay 65 percent of the revenue shortfall, if any. In February 2006, we amended the AT&T agreement to provide that certain services that we purchase or may purchase from AT&T (and its affiliates) will now count toward the minimum commitment. With this amendment we anticipate that we will not be required to make any shortfall payments under this contract. In addition to the AT&T commitment, we have other commitments with various other vendors for telecommunication services.

In addition, at December 31, 2005, we had outstanding purchase orders for capital expenditures of $0.6 million. We have a contract with our invoice printing company that establishes pricing and provides for annual minimum payments as follows: 2006 - $1.2 million, 2007 - $1.2 million, and 2008 - $1.3 million. We also agreed to renew the maintenance agreement associated with a vendor financing agreement we entered into in May 2004 with a software supplier for an additional two years at a cost of $0.6 million per year, which is funded on the anniversary dates.
 
25

NOTE 3. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

The following is a summary of property and equipment, at cost, less accumulated depreciation (in thousands):

 
     
December 31,
 
 
   
Lives 
   
2005
   
2004
 
Land
       
$
330
 
$
330
 
Buildings and building improvements
   
39 years
   
7,077
   
7,004
 
Leasehold improvements
   
3-10 years
   
3,713
   
2,146
 
Switching equipment
   
1-10 years
   
121,033
   
68,444
 
Purchased software
   
3 years
   
18,483
   
11,812
 
Equipment and other
   
3-10 years
   
57,892
   
49,152
 
 
         
208,528
   
138,888
 
Less: Accumulated depreciation
         
(110,036
)
 
(73,065
)
 
       
$
98,492
 
$
65,823
 

The following is a summary of property and equipment recorded under capital leases included above (in thousands):

 
 
 
December 31,
 
Lives
 
2005
 
2004
           
Equipment and other
3 years
 
$ 6,968
 
$ 3,627
Less: Accumulated depreciation
   
(2,544)
 
(1, 457)
     
$ 4,424
 
$ 2,170

For the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, depreciation expense amounted to $38.5 million, $17.8 million and $14.1 million, respectively, this includes depreciation expense excluded from network and line cost of $26.8 million, $6.2 million and $3.4 million, respectively. During 2004, we reduced our estimate of useful lives of certain switching equipment to reflect technological changes. This change had the effect of increasing depreciation for 2005 by $15.1 million and 2004 by $1.4 million.
 
NOTE 4. DEBT AND CAPITAL LEASE OBLIGATIONS

The following is a summary of our debt and capital lease obligations (in thousands):

   
December 31,
 
     
2005
   
2004
 
               
Vendor financing agreement
 
$
1,220
 
$
2,057
 
Capital lease obligations
   
4,057
   
2,189
 
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations
   
5,277
   
4,246
 
Less: current maturities
   
3,988
   
2,529
 
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations, excluding current maturities
 
$
1,289
 
$
1,717
 


26

(a) Vendor Financing Agreement

During May 2004, we entered into a vendor financing agreement with a software supplier for $3.1 million payable over 36 months at 2.9% annual interest rate. This agreement included $2.5 million of software and $0.6 million for an annual maintenance contract. In addition, we agreed to renew the maintenance agreement for an additional two years at the cost of $0.6 million per year, which is funded on the anniversary dates.

(b)  Capital Leases

Our capital leases are primarily related to computer and office equipment.

(c) Minimum Annual Payments

As of December 31, 2005, the required minimum annual principal payments of long-term debt obligations, including capital leases, for each of the next five fiscal years is as follows (in thousands):

Year Ended December 31,
   
     
2006
 
$3,988
2007
 
954
2008
 
335
   
$5,277


NOTE 5. STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

(a)  Stockholders Rights Plan

On August 19, 1999, we adopted a Stockholders Rights Plan designed to deter coercive takeover tactics and prevent an acquirer from gaining control of us without offering a fair price to all of our stockholders. Under the terms of the plan, preferred stock purchase rights were distributed as a dividend at the rate of one right for each of our shares of Common Stock held as of the close of business on August 30, 1999. Until the rights become exercisable, Common Stock issued by us will also have one right attached. Each right will entitle holders to buy one three-hundredth of a share of our Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock at an exercise price of $165. Each right will thereafter entitle the holder to receive upon exercise Common Stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash, property or other securities of us) having a value equal to two times the exercise price of the right. The rights will be exercisable only if a person or group acquires beneficial ownership of 20% or more of Common Stock or announces a tender or exchange offer which would result in such person or group owning 20% or more of Common Stock, or if the Board of Directors declares that a 15% or more stockholder has become an "adverse person" as defined in the plan.

We, except as otherwise provided in the plan, will generally be able to redeem the rights at $0.001 per right at any time during a ten-day period following public announcement that a 20% position in us has been acquired or after our Board of Directors declares that a 15% or more stockholder has become an "adverse person." The rights are not exercisable until the expiration of the redemption period. The rights will expire on August 19, 2009, subject to extension by the Board of Directors.

(b) Treasury Stock

In 2003, we purchased 1,315,789 of our common shares from America Online, Inc. at an aggregate price of $5.0 million.

27

NOTE 6. STOCK OPTIONS, WARRANTS AND RIGHTS

(a)  Stock Based Compensation Plan

Incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options and other stock based awards may be granted by us to employees, directors and consultants under the 2005 Incentive Plan (“2005 Plan”), 2003 Long Term Incentive Plan (“2003 Plan”), 2000 Long Term Incentive Plan ("2000 Plan"), 1998 Long Term Incentive Plan ("1998 Plan") and otherwise in connection with employment and to employees under the 2001 Non-Officer Long Term Incentive Plan ("2001 Plan"). Generally, the options vest over a three-year period and expire ten years from the date of grant. At December 31, 2005: 504,000; 360,000; 339,306; 541; and 19,055 shares of common stock were available under the 2005 Plan, 2003 Plan, 2001 Plan, 2000 Plan, and 1998 Plan, respectively, for possible future issuances.

Stock options granted in 2005 generally have contractual terms of 10 years. The options granted to employees have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the stock on the grant date. The vast majority of options granted in 2005 vest one-third each year, beginning on the first anniversary of the date of grant.   

Information with respect to options under our plans is as follows:

 
 
 
Options
Shares
 
Exercise
Price Range
Per Share
 
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
Outstanding, December 31, 2002
 
4,185,701
 
$1.11-$48.54
 
$6.84
Granted
 
1,873,171
 
$3.70-$14.35
 
$10.33
Exercised
 
(509,149)
 
$0.99-$15.75
 
$2.34
Cancelled
 
(112,616)
 
$1.38-$30.18
 
$12.48
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Outstanding, December 31, 2003
 
5,437,107
 
$0.99-$47.64
 
$8.35
Granted
 
220,833
 
$5.14-$10.87
 
$6.83
Exercised
 
(374,144)
 
$1.05-$6.81
 
$1.75
Cancelled
 
(401,952)
 
$1.32-$29.63
 
$12.86
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Outstanding, December 31, 2004
 
4,881,844
 
$0.99-$47.64
 
$8.41
Granted
 
1,670,000
 
$6.22-$9.57
 
$8.52
Exercised
 
(1,240,706)
 
$0.99 - $10.49
 
$2.43
Cancelled
 
(310,334)
 
$1.11-$30.38
 
$10.28
             
Outstanding, December 31, 2005
 
5,000,804
 
$1.20-$47.64
 
$9.82


28


The following table summarizes options exercisable at December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003:

 
 
 
Option Shares
 
Exercise Price Range
Per Share
 
Weighted Average Exercise Price
2003
2,939,893
 
$0.99-$47.64
 
$7.99
2004
3,413,585
 
$0.99-$47.64
 
$8.36
2005
3,237,232
 
$1.20-$47.64
 
$10.57

The following table summarizes the status of stock options outstanding at December 31, 2005:

Range of Exercise Prices
 
Number Outstanding at December 31, 2005
 
Weighted Average Exercise Price
 
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (years)
 
Number Exercisable at December 31, 2005
 
Weighted Average Exercise Price
$1.20 to $10.31
 
2,707,611
 
$ 6.81
 
7.6
 
961,838
 
$ 3.91
$10.32 to $14.35
 
1,987,250
 
11.61
 
6.9
 
1,969,451
 
11.62
$14.36 to $21.00
 
144,335
 
19.85
 
3.2
 
144,335
 
19.85
$21.01 to $30.00
 
66,666
 
26.65
 
3.1
 
66,666
 
26.65
$30.01 to $47.64
 
94,942
 
30.94
 
3.4
 
94,942
 
30.94

     The weighted average estimated fair values of the stock options granted during the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 based on the Black-Scholes option pricing model were $6.20, $4.99, and $7.79, respectively. The fair value of stock options used to compute pro forma net income (loss) and basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share disclosures is the estimated fair value at grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:

Assumption
 
2005
 
2004
 
2003
Expected Term
 
5 years
 
5 years
 
5 years
Expected Volatility
 
92.16%
 
93.82%
 
98.63%
Expected Dividend Yield
 
--%
 
--%
 
--%
Risk-Free Interest Rate
 
4.10%
 
3.49%
 
3.15%

(b)  Warrants

In connection with a credit facility agreement with a lender and certain consulting services that the lender provided to us, we issued warrants to the lender as follows: in August 2000, a warrant for 100,000 shares of our common stock, at an exercise price of $14.19 per share and expiring August 2007; in October 2000 a warrant for 50,000 shares of our common stock, at an exercise price of $13.08 per share and expiring March 31, 2007; in August 2001, a warrant for 50,000 shares of our common stock, at an exercise price of $2.04 per share and expiring August 16, 2006. All of these warrants were outstanding at December 31, 2005.

29


NOTE 7. INCOME TAXES

The provision (benefit) for income taxes is as follows (in thousands):

   
Year Ended December 31,  
 
 
   
2005
   
2004
   
2003
 
 Current income tax expense:                    
 Federal    $ 1,132    $ 1,401    $ 1,032  
 State     2,184     2,978     2,355  
      3,316      4,379      3,387   
Deferred income tax expense (benefit):
                   
Federal
   
14,079
   
18,721
   
(17,206
)
State
   
849
   
869
   
(6,205
)
     
14,928
   
19,590
   
(23,411
)
                     
Total provision (benefit) for income taxes
 
$
18,244
 
$
23,969
 
$
(20,024
)

30


Deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31, 2005 and 2004 are comprised of the following elements (in thousands):

   
Year Ended December 31,
 
     
2005
   
2004
 
Deferred Tax Assets
             
Net operating loss carry-forwards
 
$
38,573
 
$
49,546
 
Amortization
   
80
   
198
 
Allowance for uncollectible accounts
   
5,483
   
6,857
 
Warrants issued for compensation
   
1,050
   
1,074
 
Accruals not currently deductible
   
2,343
   
279
 
Capitalized acquisition costs
   
737
   
--
 
Alternative minimum tax credit carryforward
   
3,746
   
2,613
 
               
Gross deferred tax assets
   
52,012
   
60,567
 
Less valuation allowance
   
(12,883
)
 
(11,461
)
Net deferred tax assets
 
$
39,129
 
$
49,106
 


Deferred Tax Liabilities
             
Depreciation and amortization
 
$
4,608
 
$
12,941
 
Deductions not currently expensed
   
245
   
965
 
Deferred tax liabilities
 
$
4,853
 
$
13,906
 
 
A reconciliation of the Federal statutory rate to our effective tax rate is as follows (in thousands):

   
Year Ended December 31,
   
2005
 
2004
 
2003
Federal income taxes computed at the statutory rate
 
35.0%
 
35.0%
 
35.0%
Increase (decrease) in income taxes resulting from:
     
 
   
State income taxes less Federal benefit
 
4.5
 
4.4
 
4.0
Valuation allowance increase (reversal)
 
2.4
 
--
 
(71.4)
Other
 
(0.8)
 
--
 
--
             
Total provision (benefit) for income taxes
 
41.1%
 
39.4%
 
(32.4)%

31

 
    In connection with our acquisition of LDMI in July 2005, we acquired $35 million of federal Net Operating Losses previously generated by LDMI. Due to restrictions imposed as a result of ownership changes of acquired subsidiaries, the amount of LDMI’s Net Operating Loss carryforwards available to offset future taxable income are subject to limitations imposed under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. Annual NOL utilization may be further limited if additional changes in ownership occur. Of the $35 million acquired, approximately $1.0 million was recovered in 2005 and we believe that $34 million are recoverable in varying amounts over the next 13 years.

We maintain a valuation allowance of $8.0 million related to a $23 million tax deduction taken on our 1996 federal income tax return. We have been involved in an administrative proceeding before the Internal Revenue Service and have concluded that it is less than probable that we will prevail in this matter. We maintain valuation allowances of $3.5 million and $3.4 million against state net operating losses in 2005 and 2004, respectively, for amounts that we believe will not be used prior to expiration. During 2005, we determined that a valuation allowance of $0.6 million should be established for the deferred tax asset related to warrants issued for compensation due to the fact that the warrants in question will expire in 2007 and, as of December 31, 2005, it is more likely than not that the deferred tax asset will not be fully realized. During 2005, we also established a valuation allowance of $0.7 million against the deferred tax asset related capitalized transaction costs related to our acquisition of LDMI. To the extent that this valuation allowance is reduced in future periods, the tax effect of any such reversals will be used to reduce the carrying value of LDMI goodwill as opposed to becoming a component of deferred tax benefit.

During 2003, we evaluated the deferred tax asset valuation allowance and determined that a majority of the allowance should be reversed. The evaluation considered the profitability of our business, the ability to utilize deferred tax assets against future taxable income and possible restrictions on use due to provisions of the Internal Revenue Code Section 382. After consideration of each of these factors, we reversed deferred tax asset valuation allowances of $50.6 million.
 
At December 31, 2005, our federal net operating loss carryforwards are scheduled to expire as follows:

2012
 
$
207
 
2018
   
5,642
 
2019
   
8,554
 
2020
   
54,742
 
2021 and thereafter
   
17,305
 
   
$
86,450
 
 

        At December 31, 2005, we had gross deferred tax assets of $8.3 million related to state net operating loss carryforwards that are schedule to expire at various dates through 2025.

 
32

 
NOTE 8. SUPPLEMENTAL BALANCE SHEET AND CASH FLOW INFORMATION

(a) Supplemental disclosure of other current liabilities (in thousands):

   
2005
 
2004
 
Legal and regulatory reserves
 
$
7,431
 
$
5,230
 
Other
   
6,750
   
4,792
 
Total other current liabilities
 
$
14,181
 
$
10,022
 


(b) Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information (in thousands):
 
     
2005
   
2004
   
2003
 
Cash paid during the year for interest
 
$
270
 
$
3,506
 
$
9,930
 
Cash paid during the year for taxes
   
6,073
   
3,821
   
1,980
 
                     
                     
(c) Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities (in thousands):

   
2005
 
2004
 
2003
 
Common stock issued in connection with the acquisition of LDMI
   
15,962
   
--
   
--
 
Asset retirement obligations accruals for property, plant and equipment
   
1,617
   
--
   
--
 
Change in accounts payables and accrued expenses related to capital expenditures
   
5,700
   
--
   
--
 
Acquisition of equipment and software under capital lease obligations and vendor financing agreement
 
$
--
 
$
2,545
 
$
3,392
 



NOTE 9. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

We sponsor a defined contribution pension plan (the “Plan”). The Plan qualifies as a deferred salary arrangement under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. Eligible employees may contribute up to 15% of their compensation (subject to Internal Revenue Code limitations). The Plan allows employees to choose among a variety of investment alternatives. We are not required to contribute to the Plan. During the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, we elected to contribute $116,000, $125,000, and $125,000 to the Plan, respectively.

    We sponsor a second defined contribution plan, as originally established, for the employees of the acquired LDMI ( the “LDMI Plan”). The LDMI plan qualifies as a deferred salary arrangement under Section 401 (k) of the Internal Revenue Code. Eligible employees may contribute up to 15% of their compensation (subject to Internal Revenue Code limitations). The plan allows employees to choose among a variety of investment alternatives. We are not required to contribute to the Plan. Since acquisition through December 31, 2005, we elected to contribute $52,000 to the LDMI Plan.

33

NOTE 10. PER SHARE DATA

Basic earnings per common share is calculated by dividing net income by the average number of common shares outstanding during the year. Diluted earnings per common share is calculated by adjusting the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and the net income during the fiscal period for the assumed conversion of all potentially dilutive stock options, warrants and convertible bonds (and assuming that the proceeds hypothetically received from the exercise of dilutive stock options are used to repurchase our common stock at the average share price during the fiscal period). For the diluted earnings calculation, we also adjust the net income by the interest expense on the convertible bonds assumed to be converted. Income per share is computed as follows (in thousands except per share data):

 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
 
 
2005
 
 
2004
 
 
2003
 
Income available to common stockholders used to compute basic income per share
 
$
26,161
 
$
36,812
 
$
81,817
 
   Interest expense on convertible bonds
 
 
--
 
 
--
 
 
(1
   Income available for common stockholders after assumed conversion of dilutive securities used to compute diluted income per share
 
$
26,161
 
$
36,812
 
$
81,816
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding used to compute basic income per share
 
 
28,675
 
 
26,847
 
 
26,376
 
Effect of dilutive securities*:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stock options and warrants
 
 
621
 
 
1,007
 
 
1,233
 
5% Convertible subordinated notes due 2004
 
 
--
 
 
--
 
 
9
 
    8% Senior convertible subordinated notes due 2007
 
 
--
 
 
--
 
 
188
 
    Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding used to compute diluted income per share
 
 
29,296
 
 
27,854
 
 
27,806
 
                     
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
                   
Basic
 
 
28,675
 
 
26,847
 
 
26,376
 
Diluted
 
 
29,296
 
 
27,854
 
 
27,806
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
$
0.91
 
$
1.37
 
$
3.10
 
Diluted
 
$
0.89
 
$
1.32
 
$
2.94
 

* The diluted share basis for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 excludes options and warrants to purchase 2.5 million, 3.1 million and 1.3 million shares of common stock, respectively, because their exercise prices were greater than the average market value of the common stock for each year.

34

NOTE 11. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Fair value estimates, assumptions, and methods used to estimate the fair value of our financial instruments are made in accordance with the requirements of SFAS No. 107, “Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments”. We have used available market information, where available, to derive our estimates.

The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other current assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate their fair values due to the short-term nature of the instruments.

Debt is comprised of vendor financing and capital leases. The fair value of the vendor financed debt was estimated using discounted cash flow calculations, based on borrowing rates currently available to the company. Capital leases are recorded at their net present value, which approximates fair value.

The estimated fair value of our financial instruments is as follows:

   
December 31,
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
Carrying Amount
   
  Carrying Amount 
   
Fair Value
   
Carrying Amount
   
Fair Value
 
Vendor financing agreement
 
$
1,220
 
$
1,196
 
$
2,057
 
$
1,999
 
Capital lease obligations
   
4,057
   
4,057
   
2,189
   
2,189
 
                           

NOTE 12. QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)

There were certain adjustments recorded in the fourth quarter 2005 financial statements related to prior periods. The impact of these items, however, was not material to the current period or any prior periods.

(In thousands, except per share data)
 
First
Quarter
 
Second
Quarter
 
Third
Quarter
 
Fourth
Quarter
 
2005
                         
Revenue
 
$
119,835
 
$
107,669
 
$
120,645
 
$
114,591
 
Operating income
   
15,362
   
15,464
   
9,309
   
2,639
 
Net income
   
9,470
   
9,368
   
5,217
   
2,106
 
Net income per share - Basic
   
0.35
   
0.34
   
0.18
   
0.07
 
Net income per share - Diluted
   
0.34
   
0.33
   
0.17
   
0.07
 
                           
2004
                         
Revenue
 
$
109,619
 
$
115,213
 
$
120,929
 
$
125,251
 
Operating income
   
14,401
   
14,305
   
14,256
   
16,367
 
Net income
   
8,288
   
8,422
   
9,011
   
11,091
 
Net income per share - Basic
   
0.31
   
0.31
   
0.33
   
0.41
 
Net income per share - Diluted
   
0.29
   
0.30
   
0.32
   
0.40
 
                           

35

NOTE 13. ACQUISITION OF LDMI TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.

    On May 23, 2005, we entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger with LDMI Telecommunications, Inc. (the “LDMI Acquisition Agreement”), providing for our acquisition of LDMI Telecommunications, Inc. (“LDMI”). LDMI was privately held and is a facilities-based competitive local exchange carrier serving business and residential customers primarily in Michigan and Ohio. The acquisition of LDMI significantly accelerated our entry into the medium-sized business market with its established sales force and product portfolio. Under the terms of the LDMI Acquisition Agreement, LDMI became a wholly owned subsidiary on July 13, 2005 and results of LDMI are included in the consolidated financial statements since that date. In exchange for all of the stock of LDMI, we paid $21.3 million in cash ($24 million less cash acquired of $2.7 million) and issued 1.8 million shares of our common stock. The aggregate purchase price was $42.8 million, including the 1.8 million shares of our common stock with a market value of $16.0 million, $0.8 million of transaction costs and a $4.7 million repayment of LDMI debt.

The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed and the related deferred income taxes as of the date of acquisition. The excess of the purchase price paid over the fair value of net assets acquired was allocated to goodwill. Any changes to the fair value of net assets acquired, based on information as of the acquisition date, will result in an adjustment to the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed and a corresponding adjustment to goodwill. During the fourth quarter of 2005, we reduced the goodwill capitalized at acquisition from $26.5 million to $23.5 million. This reduction is primarily related to a $4.1 million increase to the appraised value of fixed assets acquired, offset by the related reduction to deferred tax assets of $1.2 million.
        
 
   
At July 13, 2005 
 
 
   
(In thousands)     
  
Current assets
 
$
15,574
 
Property and equipment
   
19,080
 
Goodwill
   
23,466
 
Intangible and other assets
   
6,290
 
Deferred income taxes, long-term
   
12,229
 
Total assets acquired
   
76,639
 
         
Current liabilities
   
29,565
 
Long-term debt
   
1,534
 
Deferred income taxes, long-term
   
2,728
 
Total liabilities assumed
   
33,827
 
         
Net assets acquired
 
$
42,812
 

Acquired intangibles consist of $0.7 million of registered trademarks that are being amortized over a two year period and $5.4 million to customer lists, which have an expected useful life of three years. Goodwill is not expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

36

 
The following unaudited pro forma information presents a summary of the consolidated results of our operations as if the LDMI acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2004:

 
Year
Ended December 31,
(In thousands, except
for per share data)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
2005
   
2004
 
Revenues
$
524,833
 
$
591,536
 
Net income
$
24,454
 
$
31,908
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
$
0.83
 
$
1.11
 
Diluted
$
0.81
 
$
1.08
 
Weighted average shares:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
29,631
 
 
28,647
 
Diluted
 
30,252
 
 
29,654
 

The pro forma consolidated results of operations include adjustments to give effect to amortization of intangibles, depreciation of equipment, interest expense and income, income taxes, transaction fees and shares of common stock issued. These unaudited pro forma results have been prepared for comparative purposes only and do not purport to be indicative of the results of operations that actually would have occurred had the acquisition been made at the beginning of 2004 or the future results of the combined operations.

The purchase price allocations used in the preparation of these financial statements are preliminary due to the continuing analyses relating to the determination of the fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

NOTE 14. SUBSEQUENT EVENT.

On October 18, 2005, we and one of our subsidiaries entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “NTC Acquisition Agreement”) with Network Telephone Corporation (“NTC”), providing for our acquisition of NTC. NTC was privately held and is a facilities-based competitive local exchange carrier serving business customers primarily in Southeast United States. Under the terms of the NTC Acquisition Agreement, NTC became our indirect wholly owned subsidiary on January 3, 2006, and, in exchange for all of the stock of NTC, we paid $18.0 million in cash, of which approximately $1.8 million has been deposited in escrow to be held as security for certain indemnification obligations to us under the NTC Acquisition Agreement. It is expected that the acquisition will extend Talk America’s networking footprint to the southeastern United States and add significantly to our commercial services capabilities. In accordance with the requirements of SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations,” we intend to undergo an extensive review of the fair values of the acquisition’s assets and liabilities during the first quarter of 2006. The purchase price will be allocated to the underlying assets acquired and liabilities assumed based upon their estimated fair values at the date of the acquisition. We will determine the estimated fair values based on independent appraisals, discounted cash flows, quoted market prices, and estimates made by management. To the extent that the purchase price exceeds the fair value of the net identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired, such excess will be allocated to goodwill.

37

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

Disclosure Controls and Procedures—We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including our principal executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In connection with the preparation of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and chief financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of December 31, 2005. Based upon this evaluation, our principal executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2005.

Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting—Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
 
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission ("COSO") in Internal Control-Integrated Framework. 

Management's assessment of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005 did not include LDMI Telecommunications, Inc. ("LDMI"), which we acquired in a purchase business combination during 2005. LDMI is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company that represented approximately 24% and 10% of our consolidated total assets and our consolidated total revenue, respectively, as of and for the year ended December 31, 2005.

Based on management's assessment using the COSO criteria set forth in Internal Control-Integrated Framework, management concluded that, as of December 31, 2005, our internal control over financial reporting was effective.

Our management’s assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report that appears in Item 8 of this Annual Report.

38

Remediation of Material Weaknesses—As reported in Item 9A of ourAnnual Report on Form 10-K/A (Amendment No. 1) for the year ended December 31, 2004, the Company reported material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting as the Company did not maintain effective controls over (i) the application of generally accepted accounting principles related to the financial reporting process for complex transactions and (ii) the reconciliation of sales, use and excise tax liability.  Management took the following steps, which contributed to the remediation of the material weaknesses as of December 31, 2005:

1.  
We engaged outside contractors with technical and accounting related expertise to assist in the preparation of the income tax provision and related work papers. We also implemented controls to assure accurate data is provided to, and that we review and agree with the conclusions of, outside contractors.
 
2.  
We have retained the services of outside contractors with technical accounting capabilities to assist management with the analysis of complex and technical accounting issues that are outside the technical capabilities of our personnel. In addition, we have established processes to identify issues that would require such retention of outside contractors.
 
   3.   We have redesigned the account reconciliation process for sales, use and excise tax liabilities. An in-depth review of the account reconciliation is performed and our Chief  
         Accounting Officer reviews the analysis and confirms the review process has been completed in a timely manner.

We have concluded that based upon the actions taken the Company has remediated each of the aforementioned material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting— There were no changes in internal control over financial reporting during our most recent fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2005, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

39


PART III

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT.

DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

See the information regarding our executive officers included in Part I of this Annual Report under the caption “EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT,” which information is incorporated herein by reference. Our directors, as of March 1, 2006, were as follows:

Name
 
Age
 
Position
         
Gabriel Battista (2)
 
61
 
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Mark Fowler (3)
 
64
 
Director
Robert Korzeniewski (3)
 
49
 
Director
Edward B. Meyercord, III (1)
 
40
 
Chief Executive Officer, President and Director
Ronald Thoma (2)
 
71
 
Director

         (1)  Director whose term expires in 2006.
(1)  
Director whose term expires in 2007.
(2)  
Director whose term expires in 2008.

All officers are elected annually by the Board of Directors and hold office until their successors are elected and qualified.

GABRIEL BATTISTA. Mr. Battista currently serves as Chairman of our Board of Directors. From January 1999 through May 2001 Mr. Battista served as our Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and President. From May 2001 through December 2003, Mr. Battista served as our Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer. From January 2004 through December 2005, Mr. Battista served as Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors; Mr. Battista’s term as an employee of the Company ended on December 31, 2004 (he continues as the non-executive Chairman of our Board and a Director). Prior to joining us in January of 1999 as a Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Battista served as Chief Executive Officer of Network Solutions Inc., an Internet domain name registration company. Prior to joining Network Solutions, Mr. Battista served both as CEO and as President and Chief Operating Officer of Cable & Wireless, Inc., a telecommunication provider. His career also included management positions at US Sprint, GTE Telenet and The General Electric Company. Mr. Battista serves as a trustee of Capitol College and as a director of a privately held company.

MARK FOWLER. Mr. Fowler has been one of our Directors since September 1999. From 1981 to 1987, he was the Chairman of the FCC. From 1987 to 1994, Mr. Fowler was Senior Communications Counsel at Latham & Watkins, a law firm, and of counsel from 1994 to 2000. From 2000 through 2004, Mr. Fowler founded and served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of AssureSat, Inc., a provider of telecommunications satellite backup services. Since 2002, Mr. Fowler has been self-employed and pursuing investments in various companies and real estate. From 1991 to 1994, he was the founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PowerFone Holdings Inc., a telecommunications company. From 1994 to 2000 he was a founder and chairman of UniSite, Inc., a developer of antenna sites for use by multiple wireless operators. From 1999 to December 2002, Mr. Fowler served as a director of Pac-West Telecomm, Inc., a competitive local exchange carrier. From 1999 to date, Mr. Fowler has served as a director of Beasley Broadcast Group, a radio broadcasting company.

ROBERT KORZENIEWSKI. Mr. Korzeniewski has been one of our Directors since July 2003. He is currently the Executive Vice President, Corporate Development and Strategy, with VeriSign Inc., which provides infrastructure services for Internet and telecommunications networks. From 1996 to 2000, Mr. Korzeniewski served as Chief Financial Officer of Network Solutions, Inc., which was acquired by VeriSign in June 2000. From 1987 to 1996, he held a variety of senior financial positions with SAIC. Mr. Korzeniewski is a certified public accountant. He serves as a director of Kintera, Inc., a software provider for nonprofit organizations. Mr. Korzeniewski is also a director of a number of privately held companies.

40

EDWARD B. MEYERCORD, III. Mr. Meyercord currently serves as our Chief Executive Officer and President. From May 2001 through December 2003, Mr. Meyercord served as our President. He served as our Chief Financial Officer between August 1999 and December 2001 and Chief Operating Officer between January 2000 and May 2001. He joined us in September of 1996 as the Executive Vice President, Marketing and Corporate Development. Prior to joining us, Mr. Meyercord was a Vice President in the Global Telecommunications Corporate Finance Group at Salomon Brothers, Inc., based in New York. Prior to Salomon Brothers he worked in the corporate finance department at PaineWebber Incorporated. Mr. Meyercord is also a member of our Board of Directors.

RONALD THOMA. Mr. Thoma is currently a business consultant, having retired in 2000 as an Executive Vice President of Crown Cork and Seal Company, Inc., a manufacturer of packaging products, where he had been employed since 1955. Mr. Thoma is a trustee of Frankford Health System and a trustee of Delaware Valley College. Mr. Thoma has served as one of our Directors since 1995.

Audit Committee. In 2005, the Audit Committee consisted of Mark S. Fowler, Robert Korzeniewski and Ronald R. Thoma. Our Board of Directors has determined that all of the members of the Audit Committee are independent, as that term is defined in the NASD’s listing standards. Our Board of Directors has also determined that Robert Korzeniewski is an "audit committee financial expert" as this term is defined in the rules and regulations adopted by the SEC.

Code of Ethics. We have adopted a code of ethics that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer. The text of this code of ethics is posted on our Internet website, www.talkamerica.com. We intend to satisfy our disclosure requirements regarding an amendment to, or waiver from, a provision of this code of ethics by posting such information on our internet website, www.talkamerica.com.

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP COMPLIANCE

Under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, our directors and certain officers and persons who are the beneficial owners of more than 10 percent of our Common Stock are required to report their ownership of the Common Stock, options and certain related securities and any changes in that ownership to the SEC. Specific due dates for these reports have been established, and we are required to report any failure to file by such dates in 2005. We believe that all of the required filings have been made in a timely manner. In making this statement, we have relied on copies of the reporting forms received by us.
 
41

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.

The following table sets forth information for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 as to the compensation for services rendered paid or awarded by us to our Chief Executive Officer and to the four other most highly compensated executive officers whose annual salary and bonus exceeded $100,000.

Summary Compensation Table
 
 
Annual Compensation
 
Long Term Compensation
 
 
Name and Principal Position
 
 
Year
 
 
Salary (1)
 
 
Bonus (1)
Securities
Underlying
Options/SARS
         
Edward B. Meyercord, III, Chief
2005
$500,000
$470,000
250,000(2)
Executive Officer, President and Director
2004
$500,000
$310,000
--
 
2003
$350,000
$452,500
300,000(3)(4)
         
Patrick O'Leary, Executive
2005
$162,000(5)
$454,540(6)
75,000(2)
Vice President - Business Services
2004
--
--
--
 
2003
--
--
--
         
Aloysius T. Lawn, IV, Executive Vice
2005
$275,000
$210,800
75,000(2)
President - General Counsel and
2004
$275,000
$139,900
--
Secretary
2003
$275,000
$287,800
60,000(3)
         
Warren A. Brasselle, Executive Vice
2005
$250,000
$196,000
75,000(2)
President - Network Operations
2004
$250,000
$127,500
--
 
2003
$250,000
$265,500
60,000(3)
         
Jeffrey Earhart, Executive Vice
2005
$250,000
$197,000
75,000(2)
President - Customer Operations
2004
$250,000
$124,000
--
 
2003
$230,000
$312,000
60,000(3)
         

(1) The costs of certain benefits not properly categorized as salary or benefits are not included because they did not exceed, in the case of any executive officer named in the table, the lesser of $50,000 or 10% of the total annual salary and bonus of such executive officer reported in the above table.

( 2)  Options to purchase shares of our common stock. Messrs. Meyercord, Lawn, Earhart, Brasselle, and O'Leary, were granted options under our 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan to purchase 250,000, 75,000, 75,000, 75,000, and 75,000 shares, respectively, of our common stock at an exercise price of $8.62 per share that vest over three years, except for Mr. O'Leary's shares, which vest in their entirety in one year.

(3)  Options to purchase shares of our common stock. Messrs. Meyercord, Lawn, Earhart, and Brasselle were granted options under our 2003 Long Term Incentive Plan to purchase 200,000, 60,000, 60,000, and 60,000 shares, respectively, of our common stock at an exercise price of $10.49 per share that vested over three years when granted but, due to the acceleration in vesting of certain out-of-the-money options in 2005, were fully vested in 2005.

(4) Options to purchase shares of our common stock. Mr. Meyercord was granted options under our 1998 Long Term Incentive Plan to purchase 50,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $10.49 per share that vest over three years. Mr. Meyercord was also granted options under our 2000 Long Term Incentive Plan to purchase 50,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $10.49 per share that vest over three years.

(5) Mr. O'Leary commenced his employment with the company on July 13, 2005 and the above table includes compensation from that date. Prior to that time he was President and Chief Executive Officer of LDMI Telecommunications, Inc., which we acquired on July 13, 2005.

(6) Mr. O’Leary’s bonuses include: (i) $17,718 payable to him under his previously reported employment agreement based on certain performance criteria relating to the performance of our subsidiary, LDMI, (ii) $366,135 payable to him under the Employee Severance Retention Agreement entered into with our subsidiary, LDMI, prior to our acquisition thereof, and (iii) $70,687 payable to him under our bonus plan.

42

The following table sets forth further information regarding grants of options to purchase our common stock made by us during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 to the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table, above.


Option/SAR Grants in Last Fiscal Year
 
 
 
 
 
Name
 
Number of Securities Underlying
Options/SARs Granted (#)
Percent of Total Options/SARs Granted to Employees in 2005
 
 
 
Exercise or Base Price ($/Sh) (1)
 
 
 
 
Expiration Date
 
 
Potential Realizable Value at Assumed Annual Rates of Stock Price Appreciation For Option Term (3)
         
5%($)
10%($)
Edward B. Meyercord, III
250,000 (2)
15%
$8.62
8/12/15
1,355,268
3,434,515
Aloysius T. Lawn, IV
75,000 (2)
4%
$8.62
8/12/15
406,580
1,030,355
Warren A. Brasselle
75,000 (2)
4%
$8.62
8/12/15
406,580
1,030,355
Jeffrey Earhart
75,000 (2)
4%
$8.62
8/12/15
406,580
1,030,355
Patrick O'Leary
75,000 (2)
4%
$8.62
7/13/10
406,580
1,030,355

(1) All options have been granted at market price on the date of issue.

(2)  The options granted to Messrs. Meyercord, Lawn, Earhart, Brasselle and O'Leary were granted under our 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan. The options granted vest over three years, except for Mr. O'Leary's shares, which vest in their entirety in one year.

(3)  Disclosure of the 5% and 10% assumed annual compound rates of stock appreciation based on exercise prices are mandated by the rules of the SEC and do not represent our estimate or projection of future common stock prices. The actual value realized may be greater or less than the potential realizable value set forth in the table.

The following table sets forth certain information as to aggregated option/SAR exercises in our fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 and option/SAR values as of December 31, 2005 for each of the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table, above.

Aggregate Option/SAR Exercises in Last Fiscal Year
and Fiscal Year-End Option/SAR Values

Name
Shares Acquired on Exercise
Value Realized
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options/SARs
-----------------------------
Exercisable/Unexercisable
Value of Unexercised In-the-Money
Options/SARs (1)
-----------------------------
Exercisable/Unexercisable
Edward B. Meyercord, III
100,000
$719,000
466,666/250,000
$486,500/$2,500
Aloysius T. Lawn, IV
26,666
$101,732
207,499/75,000
$546,541/$750
Warren A. Brasselle
40,000
$287,600
113,333/75,000
$201,164/$750
Jeffrey Earhart
30,000
$215,700
146,000/75,000
$294,530/$750
Patrick O'Leary
0
$0
0/75,000
$0/$750

(1) Calculated as the difference between the exercise/base-price of the options/SARs and a year-end fair market value of the underlying securities equal to $8.63.

During 2005, the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table, above, did not participate in either a long-term incentive plan or a defined benefit or actuarial plan.

43

Compensation Of Directors

The following table shows the compensation for our non-employee directors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005:

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Annual Board retainer          $20,000
Annual Chair of Audit Committee retainer (1)        $5,000
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
(1) Paid in addition to the Annual Board retainer.

For 2005, the Board also approved grants to each of the non-employee directors of options to purchase 15,000 shares of Common Stock under the 2003 Long Term Incentive Plan at an exercise price of $8.86 per share, the market value on the date of grant. The options vest in equal installments over three years and have a ten-year term. Non-employee directors were also reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with attendance at Board meetings or meetings of committees thereof and Board- and committee-related activities.

We also paid Mr. Battista a total of $300,000 ($25,000 per month) in 2005 for consulting services to us under our one-year consulting agreement with him, which was effective as of January 1, 2005 and expired on December 31, 2005. Under the terms of the consulting agreement, in 2005 we also provided Mr. Battista with access to and use of an office and related services in our offices and cellular phone service and provided him with health benefits comparable to those provided to our senior executive officers.

Effective January 1, 2006, we will pay our non-employee directors an annual retainer of $40,000 and the non-employee Chairman of the Board an additional annual fee of $40,000 per year, in each case payable in equal quarterly installments, and will pay the Chairman of our Audit Committee an additional annual retainer of $5,000 in a single payment. In addition, the non-employee Chairman of the Board is provided with access to and use of an office and related services in our offices and cellular phone service and is provided with or reimbursed for the costs of health benefits comparable to those provided to our senior executive officers. Non-employee directors will also be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with attendance at Board meetings or meetings of committees thereof and Board- and committee-related activities. 

In addition, non-employee directors will continue to be eligible to receive awards for a number of shares to be determined by the Board. Subject to the limits in our various incentive plans, the Board has the discretion to determine the form and terms of any awards to non-employee directors.

44

Employment Contracts

Edward B. Meyercord, III entered into a three-year employment agreement to serve as our Chief Executive Officer and President effective as of January 1, 2004. Commencing in 2004, under the contract, Mr. Meyercord is entitled to a minimum annual base salary of $500,000 and certain other perquisites made generally available to our senior executive officers.

Aloysius T. Lawn, IV entered into a three-year employment agreement effective as of July 30, 2004. Under the contract, Mr. Lawn is entitled to a minimum annual base salary of $275,000 and certain other perquisites made generally available to our senior executive officers.

Warren Brasselle entered into a three-year employment agreement effective as of July 30, 2004. Under the contract, Mr. Brasselle is entitled to a minimum annual base salary of $250,000 and certain other perquisites made generally available to our senior executive officers.

Jeffrey Earhart entered into a three-year employment agreement effective as of July 30, 2004. Under the contract, Mr. Earhart is entitled to a minimum annual base salary of $250,000 and certain other perquisites made generally available to our senior executive officers.

Patrick O'Leary entered into an eighteen-month employment agreement effective as of July 13, 2005. Under the contract, Mr. O'Leary is entitled to a minimum annual base salary of $350,000 and certain other perquisites made generally available to our senior executive officers.

Each of the employment agreements for Messrs. Meyercord, Lawn, Brasselle, Earhart and O'Leary provides for immediate vesting of options in event of a "change of control" (as defined in the agreements) of us and provides for severance benefits in the event employment is terminated by us without cause prior to the end of the term and for a certain period beyond the end of the term in the event of a "change of control." The severance benefits in the event employment is terminated by us without cause prior to the end of the term are generally the payment of an amount equal to one year’s base salary plus all bonus amounts due such executive at the time of termination, as well as the continuation of various employee benefits for one year. The severance benefits in the event employment is terminated for a certain period beyond the end of the term in the event of a "change of control" are generally the payment of an amount equal to one year’s base salary plus all the average annual incentive bonus earned by the executive in the preceding four years, as well as the continuation of various employee benefits for one year.

Each of the above-described agreements requires the executive to maintain the confidentiality of our information and assign any inventions to us. In addition, each of the executive officers has agreed that he will not compete with us by engaging in any capacity in any business that is competitive with our business during the term of his respective agreement and thereafter for specified periods.

Compensation Committee

In 2005, the Compensation Committee consisted of Mark S. Fowler and Ronald R. Thoma. The Compensation Committee is responsible for determining compensation for our executive officers and currently administers the 1998 Long Term Incentive Plan, the 2000 Long Term Incentive Plan, the 2001 Non-Officer Long Term Incentive Plan, the 2003 Long Term Incentive Plan and the 2005 Incentive Plan and reviews and approves the grant of options to our employees.

Compensation Committee Interlocks And Insider Participation

None.

45


ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT.

The following table sets forth certain information known to us with respect to beneficial ownership of our common stock as of March 1, 2006 (except as otherwise noted) by (i) each stockholder who is known by us to own beneficially more than five percent of the outstanding common stock, (ii) each of our directors and nominees for director, (iii) each of the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table above in Item 11 of this Annual Report and (iv) all our current directors and executive officers as a group. Except as otherwise indicated below, we believe that the beneficial owners of the common stock listed below have sole investment and voting power with respect to such shares.

 
Name of Beneficial Owner or Identity of Group
 
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned (1)
 
Percent of Shares Beneficially Owned
         
Paul Rosenberg
650 N. E. 5th Avenue
Boca Raton, FL 33432
 
1,919,995(2)
 
6.3%
Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc.
1299 Ocean Avenue, 11th Floor
Santa Monica, CA 90401
 
1,684,002(3)
 
5.5%
Mellon Financial Corporation
One Mellon Center
Pittsburgh, PA 15258
 
1,751,170(4)
 
5.8%
 
Eton Park Fund, L.P., Eton Park Master Fund, Ltd.
Eton Park Associates, L.P., Eton Park Capital
Management, L.P., Eric M. Mindich
825 Third Avenue, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10022
 
Barclays Global Investors, NA., Barclays
Global Fund Advisors, Barclays Global Investors, Ltd., Barclays Global Investors Japan Trust and Banking Company Limited
45 Fremont Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
 
 
2,800,000(5)
 
 
 
 
 
2,406,912(6)
 
 
9.2%
 
 
 
 
 
7.9%
Gabriel Battista
 
646,666
 
2.1%
Mark S. Fowler
 
137,374
 
*
Edward B. Meyercord, III
 
473,333
 
1.5%
Ronald R. Thoma
 
59,311
 
*
Robert Korzeniewski
 
21,000
 
*
Aloysius T. Lawn, IV
 
207,499
 
*
Jeffrey Earhart
 
150,768
 
*
Warren Brasselle
 
123,166
 
*
Patrick O’Leary
 
0
 
*
All directors and executive officers as a group
(14 persons)
 
2,123,782(7)
 
6.6%

* Less than 1%

46

(1) The securities "beneficially owned" by a person are determined in accordance with the definition of "beneficial ownership" set forth in the regulations of the SEC and, accordingly, may include securities owned by or for, among others, the spouse, children or certain other relatives of such person. The same shares may be beneficially owned by more than one person. Beneficial ownership may be disclaimed as to certain of the securities.

(2) The foregoing information is derived from the Schedule 13D/A filed by Paul Rosenberg, the Rosenberg Family Limited Partnership, PBR, Inc. and the New Millennium Charitable Foundation on February 12, 1999.

(3) The foregoing information is derived from the Schedule 13G filed by Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc. on February 6, 2006.

(4) The foregoing information is derived from the Schedule 13G filed by Mellon Financial Corporation on February 15, 2006. This Schedule indicates that, as of December 31, 2005, Mellon Financial Corporation had beneficial ownership of 1,751,170 shares, with sole voting power for 955,137 shares and sole dispositive power for 1,706,670 shares.

(5) The foregoing information is derived from the Schedule 13G/A filed by Eton Park Fund, L.P., Eton Park Master Fund, Ltd., Eton Park Associates, L.P., Eton Park Capital Management, L.P. and Eric M. Mindich on February 8, 2006. This Schedule indicates that, as of December 31, 2005: Eton Park Fund, L.P. had beneficial ownership of 980,000 shares, with shared voting power and shared dispositive power for 980,000 shares; Eton Park Master Fund Ltd. had beneficial ownership of 1,820,000 shares, with shared voting power and shared dispositive power over 1,820,000 shares; Eton Park Associates, L.P. had beneficial ownership of 980,000 shares, with shared voting power and shared dispositive power for 980,000 shares; Eton Park Capital Management, L.P. had beneficial ownership of 1,820,000 shares, with shared voting power and shared dispositive power for 1,820,000 shares, and; Eric M. Mindich had beneficial ownership of 2,800,000 shares, with shared voting power and shared dispositive power for 2,800,000 shares.

(6) The foregoing information is derived from the Schedule 13G filed by Barclays Global Investors, NA, Barclays Global Fund Advisors, Barclays Global Investors, Ltd. and Barclays Global Investors Japan Trust and Banking Company Limited on January 26, 2006. This Schedule indicates that, as of December 31, 2005: Barclays Global Investors, NA had beneficial ownership of 2,406,912 shares, with sole voting power for 2,141,523 shares and sole dispositive power for 2,406,912 shares; Barclays Global Fund Advisors had beneficial ownership of 341,217 shares, with sole voting power and sole dispositive power for 341,217 shares; and Barclays Global Investors, Ltd. and Barclays Global Investors Japan Trust and Banking Company Limited had no beneficial ownership.

(7) Includes shares of our common stock that could be acquired upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days after March 1, 2006 as follows: Paul Walker - 16,667.

47

Equity Compensation Plans and Securities

The following table sets forth certain information as of December 31, 2005 with respect to compensation plans under which our equity securities are authorized for issuance:

 
 
Plan Category
 
 
Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights
 
 
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights
 
 
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans(1)
             
Equity compensation
     plans approved by
     security holders
 
3,479,261
 
$8.98
 
883,596
Equity compensation
     plans not approved
     by security holders (2)
 
1,521,543
 
$11.74
 
339,306
Total
 
5,000,804
 
$9.82
 
1,222,902

(1) Excludes securities reflected in the first column as “to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights.” Under all plans, if any shares subject to a previous award are forfeited, or if any award is terminated without issuance of shares or satisfied with other consideration, the shares subject to such award shall again be available for future grants.
 
(2) These are shares issuable upon exercise of options, most of which options were issued under our 2001 Non-Officer Long Term Incentive Plan (“2001 Plan”), pursuant to which up to 1,666,666 shares of our common stock (subject to certain adjustments) may be issued to our non-executive employees in the form of options, rights, restricted stock and incentive shares. Generally, the options granted under the 2001 Plan vest in equal annual portions over a three-year period and expire ten years from the date of grant, except that in limited circumstances certain options have a vesting period less than three years, including by reason of the acceleration in vesting of certain out-of-the-money options in December 2005, or a term less than ten years. At December 31, 2005, 339,306 shares of common stock were available under the 2001 Plan for possible future issuances. All options granted under the 2001 Plan have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the stock on the grant date.

The balance of these shares include shares issuable on exercise of certain options granted to non-executive employees or to executive officers in connection with their initial employment, in each case without shareholder approval as permitted by the rules of Nasdaq. These other options have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the stock on the grant date, expire ten years from the date of grant and vest in equal annual portions over a three-year period, except that in limited circumstances certain options have a vesting period less than three years, including by reason of the acceleration in vesting of certain out-of-the-money options in December 2005. To the extent permitted by the rules of Nasdaq in connection with the initial employment of employees, there may be further grants of securities, by option or otherwise, without shareholder approval.

See also Note 6 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 6 of Part II of this Form 10-K Annual Report, which Note is incorporated herein by reference

48

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS.

None.
 
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES.

 During our fiscal years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP provided services to us in the following categories and amounts:

 
 Description     2005     2004  
               
 Audit Fees   $ 1,244,571   $ 960,000  
 Audit-Related Fees   $ 143,929   $ 0  
 Tax Fees   $ 0   $ 8,696  
 All Other Fees   $ 1,500   $ 1,500  
 

    In the above table, “audit fees” are fees we paid to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, our independent registered public accountants, for professional services for the audit of our consolidated financial statements included in our Form 10-K Annual Report (including for annual audit and attestation of management’s evaluation of internal control over financial reporting) and review of financial statements included in our Form 10-Q Quarterly Reports, and for services that are normally provided by the auditor in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements (including internal control consultations associated with preparation for compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404); “audit related fees” are fees billed by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements that are not reported under “audit fees” which primarily consisted, in fiscal 2005, of work related to the acquisition of LDMI; “tax fees” are fees billed by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning services, which primarily consisted, in fiscal 2004, of tax research, and, in fiscal 2005, of tax advice related to the acquisition of LDMI; and “all other fees” are fees billed by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to us for any services not included in the first three categories, which consisted, in fiscal 2004 and 2005, of the annual subscription fee for an online information service.

The Audit Committee has determined that the services provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to us that were not related to its audit of our financial statements were at all relevant times compatible with that firm's independence and approved all such services.

The Audit Committee pre-approves all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee may delegate pre-approval of audit and non-audit services to a subcommittee of the Audit Committee, provided that any decisions made by such subcommittee shall be presented to the full Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.

In both 2004 and 2005, the Audit Committee pre-approved 100% of the services provided by our independent registered public accountants in such years.



 
49

PART IV

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.

(a) The following documents are filed as part of this Form 10-K Annual Report.

    (1) Consolidated Financial Statements:

The Consolidated Financial Statements filed as part of this Form 10-K Annual Report are listed in the "Index to Consolidated Financial Statements" in Item 8.

   (2) Consolidated Financial Statement Schedule:

The Consolidated Financial Statement Schedule filed as part of this report is listed in the "Index to S-X Schedule."

Schedules other than those listed in the accompanying Index to S-X Schedule are omitted for the reason that they are either not required, not applicable or the required information is included in the Consolidated Financial Statements or notes thereto.
50


TALK AMERICA HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX TO S-X SCHEDULE


 
PAGE
   
Schedule II -- Valuation & Qualifying Accounts
 52


51



SCHEDULE II -- VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
Deferred Tax Asset Valuation Allowance Rollforward
(In Thousands)


YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
 
BALANCE AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD
 
 
 
 
AMOUNTS
CHARGED TO EXPENSE
(INCOME)
 
WRITE-OFFS
 
OTHER (a)
 
BALANCE AT END OF PERIOD
 
                   
2005
 
$ 11,461
 
1,067
 
(436)
 
791
 
$ 12,883
                     
2004
 
$ 14,760
 
(180)
 
(3,119)
 
--
 
$ 11,461
                     
2003
 
$ 77,591
 
(50,585)
 
(5,756)
 
(6,490)
 
$ 14,760
                     
__________________

(a) Column represents changes in the deferred tax asset valuation allowance related to business acquisitions.
52


(3) Exhibits:

EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION

3.1
Our composite form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended through October 15, 2002 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K, dated October 16, 2002).

3.2
Our Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to our registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 33-94940)).

3.3
Certificate of Designation of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock dated August 27, 1999 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit A to Exhibit 1 to our registration statement on Form 8-A (File No. 000-26728)).

4.1
Specimen of Talk America Holdings, Inc. common stock certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002).

4.2
Form of Warrant Agreement for MCG Credit Corporation dated August 9, 2000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000).

4.3
Form of Warrant Agreement for MCG Credit Corporation dated October 20, 2000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000).

4.4
Form of Warrant Agreement for MCG Finance Corporation dated October 20, 2000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000).

10.1
Employment Agreement with Aloysius T. Lawn, IV dated July 30, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2004).*

10.2
Employment Agreement with Edward B. Meyercord, III dated January 1, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003).*

10.3
Tel-Save Holdings, Inc. 1995 Employee Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to our registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 33-94940)).*

10.4
Stock Option Agreement, dated as of November 13, 1998, with Gabriel Battista (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to our Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 20, 1999).*

10.5
1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to our Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 20, 1999).*

10.6
2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.31 to our Registration Statement on Form S-4 (No. 333-40980)). *

10.7
Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement, dated December 12, 2000, for each of Gabriel Battista, Aloysius T. Lawn IV and Edward B. Meyercord, III (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.40 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000).*

10.8
Rights Agreement dated as of August 19, 1999 by and between the Talk.com Inc. and First City Transfer Company, as Rights Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1 to our registration statement on Form 8-A (File No. 000-26728)).

10.9
Employment Agreement with Thomas M. Walsh dated as of May 9, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q dated March 31, 2005).*

10.10
Indemnification Agreement with Thomas M. Walsh dated as of August 7, 2000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q dated November 14, 2000).*

10.11
Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement with Thomas M. Walsh dated as of August 7, 2000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q dated November 14, 2000).*

53

10.12
Lease by and between Talk.com Holding Corp. and University Science Center, Inc. dated April 10, 2000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.54 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000).

10.13
Lease by and between The Other Phone Company, dba Access One Communications and University Science Center, Inc. dated December 8, 1999 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.55 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000).

10.14
Restated Access One Communications Corp. 1997 Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to our registration statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-52166).*

10.15
Restated Access One Communications Corp. 1999 Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to our registration statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-52166).*

10.16
Employment Agreement with Jeffrey Earhart dated July 30, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2004). *

10.17
Employment Agreement with Warren Brasselle dated July 30, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2004). *
 
10.18
Employment Agreement with Timothy Leonard dated March 15, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004).*

10.19
Lease by and between Talk America Inc. and BTS Owners LLC, dated as of July 1, 2003 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to our annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003).

10.20
Amendment to Office Lease by and between Michigan Plaza LLC (predecessor-in-interest to BTS Owners LLC) and Talk America Inc. dated November 30, 2005 (1).

10.21
First Amendment, dated as of September 19, 2001, to the Rights Agreement dated as of August 19, 1999, by and between Talk America Holdings, Inc. and First City Transfer Company, as Rights Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 24, 2001).

10.22       Employment Agreement with David G. Zahka dated July 30, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2004).*

54

10.23
Our 2001 Non-Officer Long Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our registration statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-74820).*

10.24
Office Lease by and between TMT Reston I & II, Inc. and Talk America Inc. dated as of September 16, 2005 (1).

10.25
Our 2003 Long Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit B of our Definitive Proxy Statement filed on May 6, 2003).*

10.26
Second Amendment to Rights Agreement, dated as of December 13, 2002, to the Rights Agreement dated as of August 19, 1999, by and between Talk America Holdings, Inc., First City Transfer Company and Stocktrans, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 13, 2002).

10.27
2005 Executive Officer and Management Bonus Program Summary (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 26, 2005) *

10.28
2005 Supplemental Incentive Compensation Plan Summary (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 26, 2005). *

10.29
Consulting Agreement between Talk America Holdings, Inc. and Gabriel Battista, dated as of January 1, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 1, 2005).

10.30
Indemnification Agreement with Edward B. Meyercord, III dated January 1, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003).

10.31
Employment Agreement with Gabriel Battista dated January 1, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003).*

10.32
Agreement and Plan of Merger dated May 23, 2005 among LDMI Telecommunications, Inc., Talk America Holdings, Inc. and Lion Acquisition Corp. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 23, 2005).

10.33
Escrow Agreement, dated as of July 13, 2005 among LDMI Telecommunications, Inc., Talk America Holdings, Inc., the representatives named therein and U.S. Bank National Association, as Escrow Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 13, 2005).

10.34
Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of October 18, 2005 among NT Corporation, Talk America Holdings, Inc. and THNetco, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 18, 2005).

10.35
Employment Agreement with Patrick O'Leary dated July 13, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 13, 2005).*

55

10.36       Employment Agreement with Mark Wayne dated July 13, 2005 (1).*

10.37
Summary of Talk America Holdings, Inc. Non-Employee Director Compensation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 28, 2005).*

10.38
Talk America Executive Nonqualified Savings Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-131230)).*

10.39
Executive Officer and Management Bonus Program Summary, as amended as of February 14, 2006 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 14, 2005).*

10.40
2006 Executive Officer and Management Bonus Program Summary (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 14, 2005).*

10.41
2006 Supplemental Incentive Compensation Plan Summary (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 14, 2005).*

10.42
Office Lease by and between Cordova Associates, LLC and NT Corporation dated as of September 7, 2000 (1).

10.43
Amendment to Office Lease by and between Cordova Associates, LLC and NT Corporation dated as of November 28, 2001 (1).

10.44
Second Amendment to Office Lease by and between Cordova Associates, LLC and NT Corporation dated as of October 21, 2002 (1).

10.45
Office Lease by and between BSRT Phoenix Business Park, LLC and LightNetworks, Inc. dated as of January 13, 2000 (1).

10.46
Amendment to Office Lease by and between BSRT Phoenix Business Park, LLC and LightNetworks, Inc. dated February 17, 2000 (1).

10.47
Second Amendment to Office Lease by and between BSRT Phoenix Business Park, LLC and LightNetworks, Inc. dated April 17, 2000 (1).

10.48
Assignment of Office Lease by and between LightNetworks, Inc., Network Telephone Corporation and BSRT Phoenix Business Park, LLC dated September 21, 2000 (1).
 
10.49
Amendment to Office Lease by and between Phoenix Business Park, LLC, successor to DA Phoenix, LLC, successor to BSRT Phoenix Business Park LLC and Network Telephone Inc., successor to LightNetworks, Inc. dated August 4, 2005 (1).

56

10.50
Amendment to Office Lease by and between Phoenix Business Park, LLC and Network Telephone Inc., dated October ___, 2005 (1).

10.51
Amendment to Office Lease by and between Phoenix Business Park, LLC and Network Telephone Inc., dated December 21, 2005 (1).

10.52
Amendment to Office Lease by and between Phoenix Business Park, LLC (successor in interest to BSRT Phoenix Business Park, LLC and Network Telephone, Inc. (successor in interest to LightNetworks, Inc.) dated as of January 9, 2005 (1).

10.53
Office Lease by and between American Center LLC and LDMI Telecommunications, Inc. dated as of January 28, 2003 (1).

10.54       First Lease Modification to Office Lease by and between American Center LLC and LDMI Telecommunications, Inc. dated as of February 13, 2003 (1).

10.55       Second Lease Modification to Office Lease by and between American Center LLC and LDMI Telecommunications, Inc. dated as of May 9, 2003 (1).

10.56      Third Lease Modification to Office Lease by and between American Center LLC and LDMI Telecommunications, Inc. dated as of October 22, 2003 (1).

10.57       Fourth Lease Modification to Office Lease by and between American Center LLC and LDMI Telecommunications, Inc. dated as of May 19, 2004 (1).

10.58       Fifth Lease Modification to Office Lease by and between American Center LLC and LDMI Telecommunications, Inc. dated as of February 1, 2005 (1).

10.59       Six Lease Modification to Office Lease by and between American Center LLC and LDMI Telecommunications, Inc. dated as of May 1, 2005 (1).

10.60       Seventh Lease Modification to Office Lease by and between American Center LLC and LDMI Telecommunications, Inc. dated as of October 1, 2005 (1).

10.61
Office Lease by and between Galleria Equities, LLC and LDMI Telecommunications, Inc. dated May 31, 2000 (1).

10.62
Office Lease by and between Southfield Technecenter Re 1 LLC and Talk America Inc. dated February 24, 2003 (1).

10.63      Talk America Holdings, Inc. 2003 Long Term Incentive Plan Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement for Non-Employee Directors (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 29, 2005).

57

14.1
Code of Ethics (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 14.1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003).

21.1
Our Subsidiaries (1).

23.1         Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (filed herewith).

31.1
Certification of Edward B. Meyercord, III Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) (filed herewith).

31.2
Certification of David G. Zahka Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) (filed herewith).

32.1
Certification of Edward B. Meyercord, III Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 (furnished herewith).

32.2
Certification of David G. Zahka Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 (furnished herewith).

* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
 
(1) Previously filed as an exhibit to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, filed on March 16, 2005.
58





SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

Date: March 27, 2006

                                          TALK AMERICA HOLDINGS, INC.

                                          By:  /s/ Edward B. Meyercord, III 
                        Edward B. Meyercord, III
                        Chief Executive Officer, President
                        and Director